Una, January 15: The Himachal Pradesh government's Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana has emerged as an effective social initiative in securing and empowering the future of children. This scheme is not only connecting needy children with education but is also bringing positive changes in the lives of families struggling with difficult circumstances. In Una district, under this scheme, financial assistance of Rs. 2,61,48,722 has been provided to 2189 children so far.
This scheme, launched with the visionary thinking of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, has become a source of support especially for those children whose mothers are widows, divorced, abandoned, or destitute, or whose parents suffer from 70 percent or more disability. The government is providing assistance of Rs. 1000 per month to such children until they reach the age of 18, so that their education, nutrition, and basic needs can be met.
Meanwhile, students aged 18 to 27 who are pursuing higher education and are deprived of hostel facilities are being provided assistance of Rs. 3000 per month.
What the officials say
District Program Officer (ICDS) Narendra Kumar said that this scheme has proved to be a great relief for economically weaker families, where continuing children's education had become a challenge. He said that the scheme is being effectively implemented in all the development blocks of Una district.
Deputy Commissioner Jatin Lal said that in line with the Chief Minister's vision, the scheme is being implemented at the grassroots level with complete transparency and sensitivity. The administration is striving to ensure that no eligible child is deprived of the benefits of this scheme. The real impact of the scheme is clearly visible in the experiences of the beneficiary families.
Beneficiary Tanmay, who is currently studying in the eleventh grade, says that after his father's death, the family's financial condition became very weak, and he feared that he would have to drop out of school. The Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana has given them new hope, and today they are confidently dreaming of a bright future.
Pooja Puri from Ward No. 6 in Una says that after her husband's death, it became difficult to bear the expenses of her two daughters' education, but the assistance of Rs. 12,000 received in six months provided her with great support. Similarly, Saroj Bala from Kotla Kalan and Renu Devi from Una, along with many other women, have expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri, calling this scheme a lifeline for their children.
Today, the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana is not only a means of financial assistance but is also becoming a strong foundation for making children self-reliant, educated, and confident.