Shimla: Education scheme announced for children of widows and divorced women

Shimla: The state government will launch the ‘Mukhya Mantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana’ to help widows, destitute women, divorced women and disabled parents educate their children. Under the scheme, eligible children will get a monthly grant of Rs 1,000 to meet their education, health and nutritional needs till the age of 18 years. Additionally, the scheme will provide financial assistance to cover course fees and hostel expenses for undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma and vocational courses. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting held here today, chaired by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu.
The Cabinet also approved depositing 10 per cent margin money for purchase of e-taxis under Rajiv Gandhi Swarojgar Start-up Yojana and providing 50 per cent subsidy within three months after disbursement of loan installment by the bank. UCO Bank has been designated as the nodal bank to sanction loans for implementing the scheme, while Himachal Pradesh State Cooperative Bank, Joginder Central Cooperative Bank and Kangra Central Cooperative Bank have been designated as preferred banks. Loans will be provided to candidates at an interest rate of 7.9 per cent per annum.
The Cabinet also approved age relaxation of six months for students already enrolled in Nursery, LKG and UKG during the 2023-24 academic year to allow them to advance to the next higher classes up to Class I. The Cabinet also approved a new Sub-Divisional Police Office at Dadasiba in Kangra district, a Police Chowki at Alampur and upgradation of Police Chowki Sansarpur Terrace and Police Chowki Moin into Police Stations along with creation of necessary posts for making these offices operational. The Cabinet approved opening of a new Jal Shakti Department Circle at Dehra in Kangra district and creation and filling up of necessary posts. The Cabinet also decided to establish new sub-division and section of Jal Shakti Department at Khad in Haroli Assembly Constituency of Una district, in which necessary posts will be created and filled.
The Cabinet also decided to open new sub-division of Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department at Khad in Haroli area of ​​Una district, in which necessary posts will be created and filled. Monthly fee for concessional travel in HRTC buses for police personnel, jail officials and security guards will increase from Rs 110 to Rs 500. The government had decided to discontinue concessional travel to police personnel in the last Cabinet meeting, but the decision was reviewed and changed. The Cabinet has approved the purchase of three Tesla MRI machines for IGMC Shimla, Atal Institute of Medical Super Speciality, Chamiana and Dr. Radhakrishnan Government Medical College, Hamirpur to improve patient care. The Cabinet also approved provision of one electric vehicle each for emergency services at AIIMS Chamiana and IGMC Shimla. It was decided to open a fire station in Ubadesh area of ​​Kotkhai area of ​​Shimla district.