The Himachal Pradesh government announced an expansion of the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojna to offer financial aid to daughters of widows pursuing higher education, both within and outside the state. The scheme, aimed at supporting children of widows, destitute or divorced women, and disabled parents, now includes assistance for eligible daughters up to 27 years old to pursue higher studies.
Beneficiaries enrolled in professional courses at government institutions outside the state can now receive Rs 3,000 per month for up to 10 months to cover accommodation expenses if government hostel facilities are not available. The professional courses covered under this scheme include engineering, technology, business, management, medical sciences, law, computer applications, IT certifications, and humanities programs.
The scheme currently provides financial aid to children up to 18 years old studying in government institutions within the state. There are 504 girls aged 18-27 benefiting from the scheme, with an estimated 20% likely to opt for professional courses under the new provisions. To meet this expected demand, an additional annual budget allocation of around Rs 1 crore will be set aside.
For the ongoing fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 31.01 crore for the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojna, with Rs 22.96 crore already utilized by February 3. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu reiterated the government’s dedication to supporting vulnerable sections of society, emphasizing the scheme’s goal of promoting self-reliance through sustained financial and logistical assistance.
