hief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Friday proposed Rs 2,233 crore for the social security and welfare ofwomen,childrenand other weaker sections in the budget estimates for 2023-24.
The has started a new scheme -Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana- for children in need of care (orphans, semi-orphans and specially abled). All children and persons up to the age of 27 years covered under the scheme will be known as ‘Children of State’ and the government will look after them by following the principle of ‘Sarkaar hee Mata, Sarkaar hee Pita’.
Sukhu in his budget speech also said new integrated buildings – Adarsh Gram Sukh Ashray Parisar – with a capacity of about 400 inmates would be constructed in Sundernagar and Jwalamukhi to provide shelter and residential facilities to senior citizens, children, specially-abled children and destitute Women.
He further said provision of better furniture, clothing, bedding, food, additional house mothers, quality Education, career counseling, etc. would be made for qualitative improvement of orphanages.
Additionally, the children covered under this scheme will be taken out for educational tours outside the state once in a year. They will also be provided facilities of air travel and stay in three star hotels, said Sukhu.
The expenditure on account of education, hostel, professional training and skill upgrade for the beneficiaries in the age group of 18 to 27 years, covered under the scheme, will be borne by the state government, he said.
Sukhu also announced ‘Mukhya Mantri Vidhwa Evam Ekal Nari Awas Yojana’ with the financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh for construction of houses for eligible widows and single women.
He said 7,000 women would be given assistance for constructing houses under the scheme in 2023-24. Electricity, water and other facilities will be provided in the houses built under this scheme, the CM added.
He said the government would provide financial assistance to such poor children of the state, who were unable to pursue higher and professional studies due to paucity of Resources. For this, Sukhu announced to start ‘Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Protsahan Yojana’ with the proposed expenditure of Rs 200 crore.
Under the scheme, eligible poor children will be given education loan through financial institutions/banks at the interest rate of 1% to pursue engineering, medical, management, PhD, courses from ITIs/polytechnics, BPharmacy, Nursing, general nursing and midwifery.