Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania today reviewed the implementation of education schemes in Kangra district, highlighting the state’s significant progress in the education sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. He emphasized that the government’s welfare initiatives aim to ensure that no section of society is deprived of educational opportunities.
Pathania shared that the Cabinet recently approved amendments to the Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar Student Loan Scheme, allowing postgraduate students to avail loans at a 1% interest rate. Additionally, the annual family income limit for beneficiaries has been raised from Rs. 4 lakh to Rs. 12 lakh, with meritorious students eligible for loans up to Rs. 20 lakh.
He also highlighted major reforms to enhance quality education, including the establishment of Rajiv Gandhi Day-Boarding Schools in all Assembly constituencies, introduction of English-medium instruction from Class 1, and the conversion of 100 government schools to the CBSE pattern. Himachal Pradesh has now achieved full literacy and ranks first in student-teacher ratio.
Pathania noted that more than 87,000 students have benefited from scholarship schemes, with Rs. 92 crore disbursed over the past two years. Under the nutrition program, over 5.34 lakh students across 15,181 schools receive nutritious meals. Various schemes for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, disabled children, and children of widows or divorced women are ensuring inclusive education for all.
