Sukh Ashray Adarsh Gram Parisar – Having parents around, gives us much needed comfort and a feeling of being secure. Well understanding that every child needs parents for upbringing them and instilling in them the sense of confidence besides educating them for their bright future, the State Government’s flagship Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana (MMSAY), has proved to be a milestone in this direction wherein 4,000 orphans has been legally adopted as ‘Children of the State’ to be sheltered, nourished and nurtured in the safe hands of the government.
To realize the dreams of the orphans, the foundation stone of one of its kind, state-of-the-art ‘Sukh Ashray Adarsh Gram Parisar’, with an inmate capacity of around 400 and to have world-class facilities, was laid by the Chief Minister to ensure that they feel the connect, feel safe and feel protected.
To be constructed in Luthan, in Jwalamukhi area, the campus will house all basic and modern amenities like e-library, wellness centers, hospital with physiotherapy unit, community/prayer hall, temple, common room with TV, multipurpose departmental store, saloon, vocational training centre, parks, gardens, quality sports infrastructure viz: indoor and outdoor sports facilities like table tennis, badminton, yoga, swimming pool, recreation room with play station, gym and various other sports. The complex will also have separate blocks for elderly, women and orphans.
It was the first decision taken by Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after taking oath of office, which showed his compassion and care for the children without parents. To be implemented in letter and spirit, directions were issued to set up Mukhya Mantri Sukh Ashray Kosh and an appeal made to the people to donate voluntarily and generously for the noble cause.
Provisions were made for their well being, pocket money of Rs. 4000 per month, their annual exposure visits and stay in three star hotels, adequate funds for their education, festival allowance and many more. With the implementation of the MMSAY, Himachal became the first State of the country to launch this scheme for the orphans, with legal status.
Apart from this, the Government is running numerous Child Care Institutions (CCIs) across the state to shelter orphans. The Chief Minister stated that through effective running of the CCIs, the government was providing a vivacious environment in which all the orphans and inmates could live happily fulfilling their physical, emotional, financial, social and psychological needs. The CCIs are being equipped with smart classrooms/coaching rooms with touch technology smart boards, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, music rooms, recreation rooms, medical rooms and other world-class facilities.
The primary objectives of MMSAY is to provide a homely atmosphere, child centered education, nutrition and health along with inculcating moral and ethical values. The Government is working to make sure that orphans are well educated in the best schools, vocational institutions, technical and professional colleges, and in the process also fully enjoy their childhood and pursue their hobbies. The government wants these children to become self-reliant, dynamic, responsible and front runners in national growth and development.
Focus will be on providing free of cost quality education and coaching, training on language and communication skills, monthly picnics, mentorship, career counseling, marriage grant, social security by opening recurring deposit accounts for each child, allotment of land and grant for construction of house, self employment assistance and various other facilities.
This scheme also offers institutional and non-institutional care for other underprivileged sections of the society like homeless, single or destitute women, specially abled and elderly people etc for improving their quality of life and to maintain their dignity by providing psycho-social support and emotional connect.
The benefits provided includes Rs. 2,15,37,000 to 1,084 inmates of the CCI and Rs. 4,34,88,000 to 2,718 orphans of the state in this fiscal as social security of Rs. 4000 per month as pocket money. Rs. 5,000 per child as an apparel allowance amounting to Rs. 54,20,000 has been disbursed to 1,084 children of the CCI.
Festival allowance of Rs. 59,81,500 & Rs. 32,52,000 each have been disbursed for nutritious diet and books to the children of the CCI and 30 laptops have also been distributed to the meritorious students of these institutions. For pursuing higher education, Rs. 28,30,707 have been distributed to 48 beneficiaries, and Rs. 26,95,994 have been distributed to 17 beneficiaries undertaking vocational training. Apart from this 6 lakh has been distributed to the beneficiaries for Start-up.
