Children of the State: Himachal’s Journey from Welfare to True Guardianship
Free education for Children of the state; Government provides Rs. 28 Crore as pocket money
Educational assistance to 453 youth and financial assistance to 19,479 children provided under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana
Governance finds its deepest meaning when it touches lives that have long remained unheard. Guided by this belief, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has placed inclusive and compassionate governance at the heart of Himachal Pradesh’s development agenda. His vision is clear: growth must reach every citizen, especially children and youth who have been deprived of parental care, social security, and opportunity.
The Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana stands as the most defining reflection of this vision. With this pioneering initiative, Himachal became the first state in India to enact a dedicated law for orphans and vulnerable children—legally adopting them as “Children of the State.” This historic step has transformed the government’s role from a welfare provider into a lawful guardian, ensuring dignity, protection, and equal rights.
Nearly 6,000 orphan children have already been formally adopted under the scheme. Their care now comes with legal entitlements: free education up to the age of 27, skill development, higher studies, entrepreneurship support, housing assistance, and even exposure visits to places like Goa, Amritsar, and Delhi. These opportunities are designed to help them grow with confidence, self-respect, and equal footing in society.
The government has also extended academic assistance worth ₹1.53 crore to 371 students, vocational training support to 238 beneficiaries, and coaching grants to many more. Beyond education, a life-cycle approach to social security ensures pocket money, clothing allowances, festival grants, nutrition support, marriage assistance, and post-care aid—amounting to crores in direct support.
Entrepreneurship is being nurtured too, with ₹65.36 lakh provided to 75 young beneficiaries to start enterprises. Housing security has been strengthened through construction aid and land allotments, while widows and single women benefit from the Mukhyamantri Vidvah Evam Ekal Nari Aawas Yojana, which provides ₹3 lakh for house construction.
Education remains a cornerstone: under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, nearly 19,500 children from vulnerable families receive monthly support, while hundreds of youth pursue higher education with full government assistance.
The Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana is more than a policy—it is a promise that no child will be left behind, no life defined by neglect. Himachal Pradesh has set a national example of compassionate governance, proving that true progress is measured not just in economic growth, but in the dignity and opportunities extended to its most vulnerable citizens.
