Shimla, April 5
The Himachal Pradesh government has introduced new legislation in the state assembly to establish ‘Sukhashrya’ and provide accommodation to children and orphans who attain the age of 18 years. The Social Justice and Women Empowerment Minister, Dr Dhani Ram Shandil, introduced the bill, who stated that children are the nation’s future. It is crucial to instil rich moral virtues in them from a young age so that they can become productive and responsible citizens of the country.
The Sukhashrya initiative aims to provide shelter to children who do not have a home or place to live and who may be forced to beg or live on the streets. The state government has already created a fund of Rs 101 Crore to make the new provisions. It is estimated that around 6,000 children who have attained the age of 18 and have no shelter in the state will benefit from this move.
The proposed legislation also aims to make provisions for the care, protection, and self-reliance of children residing in the Sukhashrayas. The bill proposes the formation of a Children Welfare Committee on the state and district levels to ensure that children receive the necessary care and support.
The bill will be discussed and cleared tomorrow, which is the last day of the session. If approved, it will add an additional expense of Rs 272.27 to the state exchequer.
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