Himachal Pradesh Rolls Out Rs53.21 Crore Scheme for Vulnerable Families

Himachal Pradesh government has launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana,' allocating Rs53.21 crore annually to support widows, destitute women, divorced women, and disabled parents. The scheme provides monthly grants and covers educational costs to foster child welfare and prevent societal issues.

The Himachal Pradesh government has launched the 'Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana,' allocating Rs53.21 crore annually to support vulnerable families. The initiative is aimed at providing financial assistance to widows, destitute women, divorced women, and disabled parents for the education and well-being of their children, said Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The scheme caters to two age groups. For children under 18, eligible women and disabled parents will receive a monthly grant of Rs1,000 to cover educational, health, and nutritional expenses. Additionally, financial aid will be provided to children who secure admission in undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, or vocational courses to cover tuition and hostel costs.

Chief Minister Sukhu highlighted that widowed, deserted, or abandoned women face significant challenges in supporting their children due to a lack of educational and financial resources. He stressed that the scheme aims to prevent issues such as child abuse, trafficking, teenage marriages, and drug abuse by strengthening child protection at the family level. The initiative also addresses the needs of children with disabled parents. All eligible women, children, and individuals with a family income not exceeding Rs1 lakh per annum can apply through the local Child Development Project Officer.

(With inputs from agencies.)