Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana’ restoring hope in the dreams of a better future
“We are deeply thankful to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Because of him, our children are now able to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams. We wish to see such a compassionate government again and again,” says Asha Puri from Una district, while talking about the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana. Asha lost her son about five years ago. Since then, she has been living with her daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. The family was struggling even to meet daily expenses, let alone afford the girls’ education. In such a difficult time, the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana emerged as a ray of hope.
Asha’s daughter-in-law, Pooja Puri, says, “After my husband’s death, the family was facing severe financial hardship. It became very difficult to continue the children’s education. We applied under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana and now we are receiving financial support from the state government. Both daughters are now receiving a monthly assistance of Rs. 1,000 each.”
Similarly, Varsha from Luj village in the remote Pangi Valley of Chamba district lost her father in the year 2014. His demise brought immense hardship as he was the sole breadwinner of the family. Varsha says, “After my father’s death, my mother could not afford our education. But with the help of the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, we are now receiving financial assistance. I am grateful to the Chief Minister sir.”
Beyond financial aid, the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana is restoring hope of a better future. This scheme is opening new avenues of education for children from economically weaker backgrounds and has become a boon for those who are deprived of education due to family or social challenges. The scheme is a testimony to the compassionate leadership and welfare-oriented vision of the Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, marking a significant step towards social justice and educational accessibility in the state.
Under this scheme, children up to 18 years of age of widowed, destitute, abandoned women or differently-abled parents are provided financial assistance of Rs. 1,000 per month to meet their needs for basic education, health, and nutrition. For higher education, students aged between 18 and 27 years enrolled in degree, diploma, or vocational courses in government institutions are provided free education. In case hostel facilities are not available, financial assistance of Rs. 3,000 per month is given for PG accommodation.
Currently, 21,288 children below the age of 18 and 3,347 students between the age group of 18 to 27 years have been identified as beneficiaries under the scheme. The state government is set to spend approximately Rs. 28.23 crore during the financial year 2025–26 for the implementation of this scheme. To be eligible, the applicant must be a permanent resident of Himachal Pradesh and the annual family income must be less than Rs. one lakh
