In a significant welfare decision, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has extended the ₹1,000 monthly allowance under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana to cover young adults aged 19 to 27. Previously capped at age 18, this expansion aims to financially support children of widows and single mothers while they pursue higher education. During a review meeting of the Women and Child Development Department, the Chief Minister instructed officials to launch an integrated portal to streamline all departmental schemes and eliminate administrative hurdles for beneficiaries.
Underscoring that financial hardship should never bar a student from higher learning, the Chief Minister highlighted that the state already covers the complete cost of higher education for eligible children under the Sukh Shiksha scheme, which currently benefits over 21,000 individuals with a ₹40.29 crore budget. Additionally, meritorious students across the state can access higher education loans up to ₹20 lakh at a subsidized 1% interest rate under the Dr. Y.S. Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana.
To broaden horizons for underprivileged youth, CM Sukhu directed the department to organize exposure visits abroad for 50 high-performing students selected from among state care residents and Sukh Shiksha Yojana beneficiaries. On the development and nutrition fronts, he reviewed the proposed Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana across 11 districts, pledged funds for nine new Child Care Institutions, and set a May 2027 completion deadline for the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Gram Parisar in Kangra.
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