Himachal Pradesh government approves 68 applications of orphan children for higher education

NEW DELHI: Himachal Pradesh social justice and empowerment minister Dhani Ram Shandil during a state-level committee meeting said 68 applications of orphan children have been approved for higher education. The application has been approved under the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashraya Kosh (MMSAK).

As per the scheme, orphan children in Himachal Pradesh are described as the 'Children of the State'. Shandil said that a resolution has been taken by the state government to raise the living standard of about 4,000 destitute and orphan children in the state.

The government is focusing to uplift orphan children by providing them higher education and employment-oriented vocational courses and as a result of which the committee so formed, has approved 68 applications today for higher education of such children up to the postgraduate, PhD and other higher education courses.

The state government will bear Rs 28,28,457 on the higher education of such 'Children of the State'. Apart from this, Rs 32.64 lakh will be spent on providing them stipend of Rs 4000 per month, he added.

Four applications related to self-employment assistance were also approved by the committee under which an assistance of Rs 7,45,500 will be provided to them. Apart from this, 42 applications for vocational training, 16 for coaching and two for skill development were also discussed.

The Minister said that the state government would provide benefits worth Rs 83,26,321 to all 134 applicants. Besides, a stipend of Rs 59.60 lakh will be provided to 128 beneficiaries.

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Shandil said that in the committee meeting held in August this year, a total of 48 applications related to higher education were approved and a sum of Rs 15,52,678 for higher education and Rs 23,04 lakh was sanctioned as stipend to these children. He also directed all concerned officers to implement the scheme in an effective manner.