Himachal to extend education aid under Sukh Shiksha Yojana to beneficiaries aged 19-27

Himachal Pradesh is set to expand monthly financial assistance under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana to eligible beneficiaries aged 19 to 27, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said at a Women and Child Development Department meeting in Shimla.

The scheme currently provides ₹1,000 per month as pocket money to eligible children of widows and single women until they turn 18. The proposed expansion will continue the financial support for beneficiaries between 19 and 27 years, including those pursuing higher education.

The state government also covers the full cost of higher education for eligible children of widows and single women under the scheme.

“Under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, the state government is currently providing support to 21,292 beneficiaries, with a budget provision of ₹40.29 crore for the current financial year. Under the scheme, the state government bears the entire cost of higher education for children of widows and single women,” Sukhu said.

The chief minister directed the Women and Child Development Department to make sure eligible beneficiaries can access government welfare schemes without difficulty.

He also asked officials to develop an integrated portal bringing together all departmental schemes so beneficiaries can access the available support through a single platform.

“No child should be deprived of education due to lack of financial resources,” Sukhu said.

The state also provides financial assistance for higher education through the Dr Y S Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana. Under the scheme, meritorious students can obtain education loans of up to ₹20 lakh at an interest rate of 1%.

Sukhu also instructed the department to arrange overseas visits for 50 meritorious students each from beneficiaries of the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana and the Children of the State initiative. The proposed visits are aimed at giving the students exposure beyond Himachal Pradesh.

The chief minister said government resources and prosperity should also reach disadvantaged sections of society and that such beneficiaries should receive their due share of available support.

The meeting also covered the proposed Indira Gandhi Matru Shishu Sankalp Yojana, which is intended to improve maternal and child health through access to nutritious food.

Sukhu said adequate funds would be made available for constructing nine Child Care Institutions. He also directed officials to speed up construction of the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Gram Parisar at Luthan in Kangra district and complete the project by May 2027.