Himachal govt allocates Rs 53.21 crore annually for Sukh Shiksha Yojana

Shimla, August 26: The Himachal Pradesh government has launched a new initiative, ‘Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana’, aimed at providing financial assistance to widows, destitute women, divorced women and disabled parents to aid the education and welfare of their children. “The state will allocate Rs 53.21 crore annually to fund this initiative,” Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said.

The scheme aims to support two specific age groups. For children below the age of 18, eligible women and disabled parents will get a monthly grant of Rs. 1000 to meet their education, health and nutritional expenses. Additionally, children admitted to undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma or vocational courses will get financial assistance from the government to bear tuition and hostel costs.

Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said widowed, deserted or abandoned women often face difficult challenges in raising their children, primarily due to lack of educational and financial resources. “These women are particularly vulnerable, lacking the moral and financial support they need to sustain themselves and ensure the education of their children,” he said. He said the scheme aims to prevent issues such as child abuse, trafficking, teenage marriage and drug abuse by strengthening child protection at the family level.

The Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana also caters to the needs of children of disabled parents, recognising the strong correlation between disability, unemployment and poverty. All eligible women, children and individuals whose family income does not exceed Rs 1 lakh per annum are covered under the scheme. Applications can be submitted to the local Child Development Project Officer.

The Chief Minister said, “It is important to foster a supportive environment for vulnerable families, ensuring that children get the education and care they need to lead a dignified life.” From day one, the present state government has prioritised giving a voice to the underprivileged sections and has launched several initiatives to support them. “There are certain sections of society who are unable to come to us with their grievances and difficulties, but as a sensitive government, we are committed to the well-being of each and every individual,” the Chief Minister said.