Govt ‘ensuring’ orphaned kids study in prestigious educational institutions

The government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has ensured the admission of orphaned children in reputed educational institutions of Himachal Pradesh. Many of these children, who had lost their parents at an early age and could never dream of quality education, are now pursuing studies in prestigious schools.

A government spokesperson today said that the state government was facilitating the admission of orphaned children in reputed schools. Owing to the Chief Minister’s intervention and personal supervision, four children were at present studying at Pinegrove Public School, Solan; three at Loreto Convent, Tara Hall; and eight at Dayanand Public School, Shimla.

He said that this initiative was aimed at ensuring that orphaned children had equal opportunities to compete with their peers and did not feel left behind. The government was also in discussion with other leading schools to secure more admissions, thereby unlocking better educational prospects for the “Children of the State”. He added that financial assistance was also being extended to such children for pursuing higher studies and job-oriented courses, enabling them to become self-reliant.

The Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashrya Yojana has been launched with the objective of providing comprehensive support to orphaned children, from education to self-sufficiency. After assuming office, the state government adopted all orphaned children as the ‘Children of the State’, ensuring their care, protection and education up to the age of 27 years.

Under the scheme, one seat per course has been reserved for orphaned children in all government, government-aided and private technical education institutions, including ITIs, polytechnics, engineering and pharmacy colleges.