Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana is a scheme launched by the Government of Himachal Pradesh on 26 August 2024 to provide monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1,000 per child up to 18 years and free higher education support, including course fee, hostel fee, and mess charges to children of widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, and disabled parents. Annual family income must not exceed Rs. 1 lakh. Applications are submitted to the nearest Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office.
Himachal Pradesh Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana (MMSSY) alias, Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana |
| Approval Date | 26 August 2024 |
| Guidelines Issued | September 2024 by Directorate of Women and Child Development, HP |
| Implementing Department | Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Himachal Pradesh |
| Annual Budget | Rs. 53.21 crore (FY 2024-25) |
| Beneficiaries (2026) | Approximately 22,000 |
| Main Objective | Provide financial and educational support to children of vulnerable women and disabled parents for self-reliance through education |
| Eligible Beneficiaries | Children of widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, and disabled parents |
| Income Limit | Annual family income not exceeding Rs. 1,00,000 from all sources |
| Financial Assistance | Rs. 1,000 per month per child for children aged 0 to 18 years |
| Payment Mode | Joint bank account of child and mother or child and disabled parent |
| Higher Education Support | Complete course fee, hostel fee, and mess charges at Government institutions in HP for eligible persons aged 18 to 27 years |
| Courses Covered | UG, PG, Diploma, PhD, JBT, NTT, Nursing, Vocational and all professional courses |
| If Hostel Not Available | Rs. 3,000 per month rent or PG charges provided |
| Eligible Persons Age | 18 to 27 years for higher education support |
| Disabled Parent Definition | Permanent disability of 70% or more |
| Eligibility Certificate Validity | One year, renewable annually |
| Application Authority | Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) of the area |
| Sanctioning Authority | District Programme Officer (DPO) |
| Scheme Subsumed | Mother Teresa Asahaya Matri Sambal Yojana (2009) |
| Online Portal Status | Being developed by the Directorate of Women and Child Development |
| Phone | 0177-3525101 / 0177-3525102 |
| Official Department Portal | himachal.nic.in/wcd |
Introduction of Himachal Pradesh Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana: A Brief Insight
When a woman loses her husband or is abandoned or divorced, the immediate financial crisis is only one part of the problem. The bigger long-term challenge is ensuring that her children can continue their education without interruption. Without support, these children are more likely to drop out of school, enter child marriage, fall into unemployment, or become vulnerable to trafficking and drug abuse. Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana was created specifically to prevent this from happening.
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, also known as Mukhyamantri Sukh Shiksha Yojana, on 26 August 2024 under Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu. The Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Himachal Pradesh, implements the scheme. The annual budget allocation is Rs. 53.21 crore for FY 2024-25. As of 2026, approximately 21,588 beneficiaries have received benefits under the scheme. The scheme also subsumes the earlier Mother Teresa Asahaya Matri Sambal Yojana which provided only Rs. 6,000 per child annually, howeverr Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana provides far wider and more comprehensive support.
The scheme provides two levels of support. For children aged 0 to 18 years, eligible families receive Rs. 1,000 per month per child for educational, health, and nutritional needs deposited into a joint bank account of the child and mother or disabled parent. For eligible children and persons aged 18 to 27 years, the State Government bears the complete course fee, hostel fee, and mess charges at Government-run educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh across undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, PhD, and professional courses, including JBT, NTT, nursing, and vocational courses. If a hostel is not available, Rs. 3,000 per month rent or PG support is provided. Eligible beneficiaries include children of widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, and parents with 70% or more permanent disability. Annual family income must not exceed Rs. 1 lakh. Applications are submitted to the nearest Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office with the required documents. The Eligibility Certificate is issued by the District Programme Officer and is valid for one year.
Himachal Pradesh families who also need housing support alongside this scheme can explore the Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana which is a separate scheme specifically for orphaned children and Children of the state, providing Rs. 1,000 per month for children aged 0 to 14 years, Rs. 2,500 per month for children aged 15 to 18 years, and educational and other welfare support. Women beneficiaries can also check their eligibility under the Indira Gandhi Pyari Behna Sukh Samman Nidhi Yojana which provides Rs. 1,500 per month direct financial assistance to eligible women of Himachal Pradesh.
Widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, families with disabled parents, and anyone looking for more education support schemes, child welfare programmes, women welfare initiatives, and social security schemes in Himachal Pradesh can also explore other available programmes under our Himachal Pradesh Government Schemes List section.
Benefits Provided to Eligible Beneficiaries
Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana provides two types of benefits to eligible children and eligible persons under the scheme as per official guidelines issued by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Himachal Pradesh.
A. Financial Assistance for Children Below 18 Years
- All eligible children aged 0 to 18 years receive a monthly grant of Rs. 1,000 per child for their educational, health, and nutritional needs
- Financial assistance continues until the child attains 18 years of age
- Amount is deposited into the joint account of the child and mother or the joint account of the child and the disabled parent
- Children already receiving sponsorship under Mission Vatsalya or any other similar State scheme are entitled to benefit from only one scheme
B. Educational Assistance for Higher Education (Age 18 to 27 Years)
- All eligible children and eligible persons aged 18 to 27 years receive free education after securing admission in any of the following courses at Government-run educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh
- Courses covered: Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Diploma, PhD, all professional courses, including JBT, NTT, Nursing, and Vocational courses
- State Government bears the Complete course fee, hostel fee, and mess charges at Government institutions in HP and from FY 2026-27, also at IITs, NITs, IIMs, AIIMS, and NLUs outside the State for eligible persons aged 18 to 27 years
- Priority is given to eligible children and persons in admissions to hostels run by the concerned Government institutions
- If hostel accommodation is not available, Rs. 3,000 per month rent or PG charges are provided to the eligible student
- Benefits are available at both State Government-run and Central Government-run educational institutions situated in Himachal Pradesh
Difference Between Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana and Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana
Many readers confuse the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana and Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana as the same scheme. Both are Himachal Pradesh Government schemes supporting children, but they serve completely different beneficiary categories with different benefit structures.
| Feature | Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana | Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana |
|---|---|---|
| Target Beneficiaries | Children of widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, and disabled parents | Orphaned children and Children of the State who have lost both parents |
| Parent Status | At least one parent present, but vulnerable or disabled | Both parents are deceased or the children are without parental care |
| Monthly Assistance | Rs. 1,000 per month per child up to 18 years | Rs. 1,000 per month for children aged 0 to 14 years, Rs. 2,500 per month for 15 to 18 years |
| Higher Education Support | Complete course fee, hostel fee, and mess charges at Government institutions for eligible persons aged 18 to 27 years | Rs. 1 lakh per year for higher education |
| Income Limit | Annual family income not exceeding Rs. 1 lakh | No income limit, as children are orphaned |
| Hostel Support | Rs. 3,000 per month if the Government hostel is not available | Hostel facilities at Government institutions |
| Launched | August 2024 | February 2023 |
| Implementing Department | Department of Women and Child Development, HP | Department of Women and Child Development, HP |
| Application Through | Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) | Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) |
Families where both parents are alive but the mother is a widow, divorced, abandoned, or destitute should apply under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana. Families where both parents have passed away or children are without parental care, should explore the Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana for support.
Eligibility Conditions Required to be Fulfilled
The following eligibility conditions apply to beneficiaries seeking financial and educational assistance under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana as per the official scheme guidelines issued by the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Himachal Pradesh.
Basic Eligibility
- Applicant must be a domicile of Himachal Pradesh
- Annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 per year
Eligible Beneficiary Categories
- Children aged 0 to 18 years of widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, and disabled parents are eligible for a monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1,000
- Sons, daughters, and transgender children aged 18 to 27 years of eligible women and disabled parents are eligible for educational assistance for higher education
Definitions of Eligible Women
- Widow means a legally wedded woman whose husband has died, or whose husband is missing and untraceable for the last 7 years as per a report from the concerned police station, and who has not remarried
- A divorced woman is a woman who is legally separated from her husband through a court order or divorce certificate
- An abandoned woman means a woman living separately because her husband has abandoned her for the last 7 years
- A destitute woman means an unmarried woman who has no relatives or kinsmen to support her and has no independent and adequate source of livelihood
Definition of Disabled Parent
- A disabled parent means the single surviving parent or both parents whose permanent disability is 70% or more and who are not capable of taking care of their children aged 0 to 18 years
Important Condition
- If a child already receives sponsorship under the Mission Vatsalya Scheme of the Government of India or any other State scheme, the child will be entitled to benefit from only one scheme and cannot receive duplicate benefits
Documents Required to be Attached
The following documents must be submitted along with the application form to the concerned Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) for availing benefits under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana as per the official scheme guidelines issued by the Directorate of Women and Child Development, Government of Himachal Pradesh.
- Bonafide Himachali Certificate confirming domicile of Himachal Pradesh
- Income Certificate confirming annual family income does not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 from all sources
- Date of birth proof, i.e. Class 10 certificate or Birth Certificate of the child
- Death Certificate of father or spouse for widow applicants
- FIR copy and police report confirming non-traceability for the last 7 years in case of the missing husband
- Medical certificate declaring permanent disability of 70% or above for disabled parents
- Divorce certificate or court order for divorced women applicants
- Copy of Parivar Register
- Verification report from the concerned BDO, Executive Officer of Municipal Committee, Nagar Panchayat Commissioner, or Joint Commissioner of Municipal Corporation confirming destitute or abandoned status wherever applicable
- Aadhaar Card of the applicant
- Bank account details for the credit of financial assistance into the joint account of the mother and child or the disabled parent and child
- Passport size photograph of the applicant
Important: The Eligibility Certificate issued by the District Programme Officer is valid for one year only and must be renewed annually to continue receiving benefits under the scheme.
How Beneficiaries Can Apply to Avail the Benefit of this Scheme
Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana applications are currently submitted offline through the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) network. A dedicated IT portal is being developed by the Directorate of Women and Child Development for online applications in the future.
How to Obtain an Eligibility Certificate
Step 1: Collect the prescribed application form from the nearest Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office in the area where the applicant resides.
Step 2: Fill the application form completely with all required personal, income, and family details. Attach all required documents, including Bonafide Himachali Certificate, Income Certificate, date of birth proof, and category-specific documents such as death certificate, divorce certificate, disability certificate, or abandoned woman verification report.
Step 3: Submit the completed application form along with all documents to the concerned CDPO office. The CDPO verifies the submitted application and documents as per the scheme eligibility conditions.
Step 4: After verification, the CDPO forwards the application to the District Programme Officer (DPO) of the concerned district for final approval.
Step 5: The District Programme Officer issues the Eligibility Certificate to eligible beneficiaries after checking all documentation and eligibility conditions. The Eligibility Certificate is valid for one year only and must be renewed annually.
How Financial Assistance Is Received
Step 1: After the Eligibility Certificate is issued, the CDPO prepares an age-wise list of all eligible children in the area.
Step 2: The CDPO prepares the demand for funds and submits it to the District Programme Officer. The District Programme Officer prepares the district-level fund demand and submits it to the Director, Women and Child Development.
Step 3: The Director, Women and Child Development, approves and allocates funds to the concerned District Programme Officer.
Step 4: The District Programme Officer sanctions the financial assistance and deposits Rs. 1,000 per month directly into the joint bank account of the child and mother or the joint bank account of the child and disabled parent.
How Educational Assistance Is Claimed
Step 1: After securing admission in an eligible course at a Government-run educational institution in Himachal Pradesh, the eligible child or person submits the Eligibility Certificate to the concerned institution.
Step 2: The institution does not collect course fee, hostel fee, or mess charges from candidates holding a valid Eligibility Certificate under the scheme.
Step 3: The Head of the Institution submits a consolidated demand for course fee, hostel fee, and mess charges of all admitted eligible beneficiaries to the District Programme Officer of the district where the institution is situated.
Step 4: The Director, Women and Child Development sanctions and releases funds to the concerned District Programme Officer, who then releases the funds to the institution.
Step 5: If hostel accommodation is not available at the institution, the eligible student submits proof of rent or PG charges to the CDPO office and receives Rs. 3,000 per month as rent or PG support directly.
Important: The Eligibility Certificate must be renewed every year. Beneficiaries must contact the nearest CDPO office for renewal of the certificate to continue receiving benefits under the scheme without interruption.
Important Links Available
- Directorate of Women and Child Development Official Portal.
- Government of Himachal Pradesh Official Portal.
- e-District Himachal Pradesh, Online Services Portal.
Contact Details in Case of Help Needed
Beneficiaries facing issues related to Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana eligibility, application, Eligibility Certificate, financial assistance, or scheme-related queries can contact the following official channels.
- Directorate of Women and Child Development
Government of Himachal Pradesh
Block No. 33, SDA Complex,
Kasumpti, Shimla 171009,
Himachal Pradesh - Phone: 0177-3525101 / 0177-3525102
- For local queries: Contact nearest Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office in your area
- For district-level queries: Contact District Programme Officer of your concerned district
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana?
Ans. Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana is a scheme launched by the Government of Himachal Pradesh to provide financial and educational support to children of widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, and disabled parents so that they can receive proper education, nutrition, and healthcare and become self-reliant in life.
Q. When was this scheme approved?
Ans. The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet approved the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana on 26 August 2024. The detailed scheme guidelines were issued in September 2024 by the Directorate of Women and Child Development, Government of Himachal Pradesh.
Q. What is the budget allocated for this scheme?
Ans. The Government of Himachal Pradesh allocated Rs. 53.21 crore for Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana in the financial year 2024-25.
Q. How much monthly financial assistance do eligible children receive?
Ans. All eligible children aged 0 to 18 years receive Rs. 1,000 per month per child for their educational, health, and nutritional needs until they attain 18 years of age.
Q. What educational support does the scheme provide for higher education?
Ans. Eligible children and persons aged 18 to 27 years receive free education at Government-run educational institutions in Himachal Pradesh. The State Government bears the complete course fee, hostel fee, and mess charges. Courses covered include undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, PhD, professional courses like JBT, NTT, nursing, and vocational courses.
Q. What happens if hostel accommodation is not available?
Ans. If hostel accommodation is not available at the Government institution, the eligible student receives Rs. 3,000 per month as rent or PG charges support from the Government.
Q. What is the income limit to avail this scheme?
Ans. Annual family income from all sources must not exceed Rs. 1,00,000 per year to be eligible under Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana.
Q. Who is considered a disabled parent under this scheme?
Ans. A disabled parent means the single surviving parent or both parents whose permanent disability is 70% or more and who are not capable of taking care of their children aged 0 to 18 years.
Q. Who is considered a widow under this scheme?
Ans. A widow is a legally wedded woman whose husband has died or whose husband is missing and untraceable for the last 7 years as per report from the concerned police station, and who has not remarried.
Q. Who is considered an abandoned woman under this scheme?
Ans. An abandoned woman is a woman living separately because her husband has been absent for the last 7 years.
Q. Where should applicants submit their applications?
Ans. Applicants must submit the prescribed application form along with all required documents to the concerned Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office in the area where the applicant resides.
Q. How is the Eligibility Certificate obtained?
Ans. The CDPO verifies the application and forwards it to the District Programme Officer. The District Programme Officer issues the Eligibility Certificate after checking all documentation and eligibility conditions. The certificate is valid for one year and must be renewed annually.
Q. Into which bank account is the financial assistance deposited?
Ans. The financial assistance of Rs. 1,000 per month is deposited into the joint bank account of the child and mother or into the joint bank account of the child and disabled parent as applicable.
Q. Is there an online portal for applying under this scheme?
Ans. A dedicated IT portal is being developed by the Directorate of Women and Child Development for online applications. Currently, applications are submitted offline through the nearest CDPO office.
Q. Can a child receive benefits from both this scheme and Mission Vatsalya?
Ans. No. If a child already receives sponsorship under Mission Vatsalya or any other similar State scheme, the child can receive benefits from only one scheme and cannot claim duplicate benefits.
Q. What is the difference between Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana and Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana?
Ans. Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana provides Rs. 1,000 monthly financial assistance and higher education support to children of widows, divorced women, abandoned women, destitute women, and disabled parents whose annual family income is below Rs. 1 lakh. Mukhyamantri Sukh Ashray Yojana is a separate scheme for orphaned children and Children of the State with a different benefit structure and beneficiary category. Both are separate schemes with different eligibility and benefits.
Q. Which earlier scheme does the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana replace?
Ans. Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana subsumes the earlier Mother Teresa Asahaya Matri Sambal Yojana (Amended 2009) which provided Rs. 6,000 per child annually for a maximum of two children. The new scheme provides much wider and comprehensive coverage with Rs. 1,000 per month plus full higher education support.
Tabassum is a government schemes researcher and writer with 5 years of experience tracking Central and State welfare scheme programmes across India. She has covered 500+ schemes spanning agriculture, women welfare, education, and housing, helping lakhs of beneficiaries understand their entitlements in simple language.