Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday flagged off a 13-day educational and recreational tour for orphaned children, officially referred to as "children of the state", under its Sukh Aashray scheme.
This is the first batch of children for the tour, comprising 16 girls and six boys. The CM wished them an enriching and memorable journey as they departed in a Volvo bus. On this occasion, Sukhu said that the state government enacted a law for orphaned children and had adopted 6,000 of them under this legislation. "The government launched the Sukh Aashray Yojana to ensure their welfare and provide for their educational needs. This scheme aims to empower these children and support them in becoming self-reliant. As part of this initiative, the children will visit places such as Chandigarh, Delhi, and Goa for exposure and learning,” he said.
"The group will visit Chandigarh from January 2 to 4 and stay at Himachal Bhawan, Chandigarh. They will then travel to Delhi on January 5 via the Shatabdi Express and explore various historical landmarks until January 8. On January 9, the children will fly to Goa, where they will stay in a three-star hotel and visit key tourist and historic attractions," he said. "They are scheduled to return to Chandigarh on January 14," he added.
Sukhu reiterated that the government acts as parents for these children and is committed to ensuring their rightful access to state resources. "The government is providing these children with the same experiences as those who go on trips with their own families. Such exposure adds to their knowledge and prepares them for future opportunities. These children are the future of the nation, and they will definitely play an essential role in the development of the state and the nation," he said.
State govt to allocate 22 new hydropower projects of 828 MW capacity: CM
Chief Minister Sukhu on Thursday said the state government is set to allocate 22 new hydropower projects with a total capacity of 828 MW. The projects, ranging from 6.5 MW to 400 MW, are located across the districts of Kullu, Chamba, Kinnaur, Lahaul-Spiti, and Shimla. He said the largest allocation comprising nine projects with a total capacity of 595 MW is planned for the Chenab river basin. Additionally, eight projects totalling 169 MW are earmarked for the Sutlej river basin, four projects with a combined capacity of 55 MW for the Ravi basin and one project with a capacity of 9 MW for the Beas basin.
Sukhu said for the first time, the state government would allot these projects to other states, union territories and central and state undertakings. "The projects would be assigned on a 40-year lease with an upfront premium of Rs 10 lakh per megawatt," said the CM. He said that a letter has already been issued by the Energy Directorate to secretaries of states and central undertakings in this regard. He further said that these projects would secure power supply, increase revenue through free electricity and boost employment for local residents. "It will also foster development in the surrounding areas and pave the way for Himachal Pradesh to become one of the most prosperous states in India" he added.
