Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana transforming lives of orphan children with care and opportunity
2 min read
28 December, 2025
· Free education for Children of the state; Government provides Rs. 28 Crore as pocket money
· Educational assistance to 453 youth and financial assistance to 19,479 children provided under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana
Governance finds its true purpose when it reaches those who have remained unheard for decades. Guided by this belief Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has placed inclusive and compassionate governance at the centre of the state’s development agenda. Under his visionary leadership, the state government is firmly committed to ensure that the benefits of growth reach each and every person in the society, particularly children and youth who have been deprived of parental care, social security and opportunity.
A defining reflection of this vision is the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana, the most special and path-breaking initiative of Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. Through this scheme, Himachal Pradesh has emerged as India’s first state to enact a dedicated law for orphans and vulnerable children, legally adopting them as “Children of the State”. This historic step has transformed the role of the government from a welfare provider into a lawful guardian, ensuring dignity, security and rights-based protection.
Under this pioneering initiative, nearly 6,000 orphan children have been formally adopted by the state government as their guardian. The legal framework guarantees comprehensive care, including free education up to the age of 27, skill development, higher education, entrepreneurship support, housing assistance and exposure visits to places like Goa, Amritsar and Delhi with train, air travel along with five star lodging facilities. The government has converted welfare benefits into legal entitlements and has ensured that these children grow up with confidence, self-respect and equal opportunities to succeed.
Complementing this effort, the government has extended higher education academic assistance to 371 students, amounting to Rs. 1.53 crore, while 238 beneficiaries have received support for vocational training. Coaching assistance, skill development grants and professional training programmes have further equipped young beneficiaries to compete confidently in today’s employment landscape.
Beyond education, the state government has also adopted a holistic life-cycle approach to social security of the beneficiaries under Sukh-Ashray Yojana. Over the past three years, beneficiaries have been provided nearly Rs. 28 crore as pocket money. Clothing allowance for 2,635 children, festival grants for 3,268 beneficiaries, nutrition grant for 2,471 children and post-care assistance, including start-up aid, have been provided to the Children of the State for their smooth transitioning into independent adulthood. Marriage grants amounting to Rs. 5.16 crore have also been extended to 264 eligible young beneficiaries, strengthening their social and economic stability, while Post-Care Support has been extended to 136 youth, totalling Rs. 46.72 lakh.
