Shimla: Children of widows and single women, aged between 19 and 27 years, will now be eligible for Rs 1,000 monthly pocket money under the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Monday.Chairing a review meeting of the women and child development department, Sukhu directed officials to ensure the benefits of welfare schemes reach all eligible beneficiaries without inconvenience.He also ordered the development of an integrated portal for all departmental schemes to provide beneficiaries with seamless access.Currently, the scheme provides Rs 1,000 monthly pocket money to children of widows and single women up to 18 years. The scheme covers 21,292 beneficiaries, with a budget provision of Rs 40.29 crore for the financial year 2026-27. Govt also bears the entire cost of higher education for eligible children.Sukhu said no child should be denied education due to financial constraints. He also highlighted loans of up to Rs 20 lakh at 1% interest under the Dr YS Parmar Vidyarthi Rin Yojana for meritorious students pursuing higher education.The CM directed the department to arrange overseas exposure visits for 50 meritorious students each from the Sukh Shiksha beneficiaries and children of the state.Sukhu also reviewed the proposed Indira Gandhi Matri Shishu Sankalp Yojana for providing nutritious food in 11 districts and assured funds for nine new childcare institutions.The CM directed that the Mukhyamantri Sukh-Aashray Gram Parisar at Luthan, Kangra, be completed by May next year.
