Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, January 6
Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Tuesday flagged off a 10-day educational and recreational tour for 52 “Children of State” under the state government’s Sukhashray scheme. The children were sent off from the secretariat in Shimla, beginning a journey that will take them to Chandigarh, Delhi, Agra and Goa. The Chief Minister flagged off a Volvo bus, wishing the children a safe and enriching experience. Sukhu said the state had assumed the role of guardian for children who have lost their parents, stressing that the government was committed to providing them opportunities similar to those available within a family. He added that children from other districts would also be sent on similar tours in the coming months. According to officials, the children will travel by air during part of the tour and stay in three-star hotels, with the state bearing all expenses.
Separately, the Chief Minister said the government had approved jobs for 980 dependents on compassionate grounds in the first phase, calling it a major relief initiative at the start of the new year.
