category Regional, shimla, , tags Regional, shimla, , DW BUREAU Shimla The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet, in its second meeting on Thursday, approved guidelines for the Rs 101 crore Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana. Orphans and those staying with their relatives, especially disabled children, destitute women and senior citizens have been brought under the ambit of the scheme, an official statement said. The orphan children, referred to as Children of the State , will be adopted by the government. The Cabinet also recommended to the Governor to convene the Budget session of the Vidhan Sabha from March 14 to April 6. It would have 18 sittings. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who chaired the meeting, decided to refurbish the existing shelter homes, orphanages, old-age homes, etc., under the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana to provide better facilities to the inmates. Facilities like common rooms, smart classes and coaching rooms, indoor and outdoor sports facilities, music room, attached washrooms and other modern amenities will be made available for the inmates of ashrams. Integrated complexes will be constructed in a phased manner for destitute women and senior citizens and orphans with all basic amenities. These modern integrated complexes will be set up at Jawalamukhi in Kangra district and Sundernagar in Mandi district. To provide quality education for the children living in orphanages, adequate coaching will be given. Besides, reference books and other study material will also be made available. Selected eminent persons from society will serve as mentors and will provide counselling to such children from time to time, said the statement. Decision was taken that under the Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana, the inmates of these institutions will be provided rupees two lakh or the actual expenditure, whichever is less, for organizing their marriage. A recurring deposit account will also be opened for every child, destitute women living in these Ashrams and the Government will provide an assistance of one thousand rupees per child per month aged between 0-14 years, two thousand five hundred rupees per child per month aged between 15-18 years and similar applies for the single women. There will be also a provision to organize a 15 days educational tour every year for the inmates of these shelter homes to various historical and other places within the country. The mode of transportation will be Shatabdi express, AC Volvo or AC buses besides boarding and lodging in hotels not less than three star rating. On the same lines, a provision has been also made for such tours for the residents of old age homes and Nari Seva Sadans for 10 days, every year. Under the scheme arrangement for hostel and tuition fee would be made besides a sum of Rs 4,000 per child- per month will be given as scholarship to those children who have left the Child Care Homes after attaining 18 years of age, to meet their personal expenses during the study period. This assistance would be provided till they attain the age of 21 years. This assistance will also be provided to the orphans upto 27 years of age. One-time financial assistance of Rs. 2 lakh per person will be provided to eligible inmates after completing 18 years of age and wishing to start or invest in startups. The Cabinet decided that the orphan children after attaining the age of 18 years, will be provided boarding lodging in after-care institutions till he attains 27 years of age. Three biswas of land in rural areas, as well as assistance of three lakh rupees will be provided to the landless orphan after he attains the age of 27 years, for the construction of his house. The Cabinet decided to deposit an amount of ten thousand rupees as an apparel allowance, in the bank account of all the residents living in orphanages, old age homes, Nari Sewa Sadans etc. Apart from this, a provision has also been made in the scheme to appoint a Grih Mata (caretaker) or a guardian to take care of the people living in the institution. A festival grant of Rs. 500 per will also be given to celebrate the festivals throughout the year. (editor dailyworld.in)