Declared ‘Children of the State’, will be provided free education, financial aid
Subhash Mahajan
CHAMBA:
Moved by a heart-wrenching report highlighting the plight of four abandoned children in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu personally reached out to them via video call on Saturday (December 20, 2025) and offered immediate help. The intervention comes after The Newz Radar highlighted the plight of the children shivering in the cold inside a makeshift hut, drawing widespread concern over their living conditions.
The children, from Bhatwad village under Bhajotra panchayat in the Salooni sub-division of Chamba district, were left destitute after the death of their father in 2021 and subsequent abandonment by their mother. For years, the siblings struggled without adequate food, shelter or support, caring for one another under harsh winter conditions.
CM persuades eldest daughter to resume studies
During the video interaction, Chief Minister Sukhu spoke directly with the eldest daughter, who had discontinued her studies after Class 10 to take care of her younger siblings. When the girl expressed a desire to find a job near home instead of continuing her education, the Chief Minister gently urged her to complete Classes 11 and 12 first, assuring her that education would provide better opportunities for herself and her siblings.
He further assured the children that their schooling would be fully funded by the state and suggested they stay in a government hostel where they would have proper food, accommodation and safety. “Many girls live in hostels; you will be completely safe while pursuing your education,” he told the eldest daughter, offering reassurance and support.
Financial burden eased, kids declared ‘Children of the State’
The children also revealed to the Chief Minister that a loan of nearly Rs 95,000 existed on their land. Sukhu assured them that their land would be safe and that the state would provide assistance to their elder brother working in Chennai.
The Himachal Pradesh government has formally declared the siblings as “Children of the State”, ensuring that all their expenses, including education, food and daily needs, would be borne by the government. They will also receive a monthly allowance until the age of 27 and the state will provide financial support for their future wedding.
The children’s plight came to light after The Newz Radar highlighted visuals of the siblings huddled inside a torn, makeshift hut, shivering in freezing temperatures. The report galvanised public and administrative attention.
Subsequently, members of the District Child Welfare Committee and local officials intervened under the Sukhashray Yojana, providing safe shelter, nutritious food, supervision and a pathway for education and rehabilitation.
