CHAPTER - 15 - SOCIAL WELFARE
Table 15.1
Social Security Pension Schemes of the State
Old Age Pension
- Eligibility:
- No income bar, except if person or spouse is:
- Taxpayer
- Receiving Government pension
- Males aged 60–69 years → ₹1,000 per month
- Females aged 60–69 years → ₹1,500 per month
- Persons aged 70 years and above → ₹1,700 per month
- No income bar, except if person or spouse is:
- Expenditure: ₹622.24 crore up to Dec 2025
- Budget Provision: ₹854.98 crore
Special Disability Relief Allowance
- Eligibility & Amount:
- Persons with 40–69% disability (Male) → ₹1,150 per month
- Persons with 40–69% disability (Female) → ₹1,500 per month
- Persons with above 70% disability (no income criteria) → ₹1,700 per month
- Expenditure: ₹98.57 crore
- Budget Provision: ₹18.59 crore
- Beneficiaries: 78,291
Widow / Deserted / Ekal Nari Pension
- Eligibility:
- Females up to 69 years₹1,000 per month
- Females aged 70 years and above₹1,700
- Expenditure: ₹168.73 crore
- Budget Provision: ₹218.97 crore
- Beneficiaries: 1,26,808
Rehabilitation Allowance to Lepers
- Eligibility:
- Male leprosy patients up to 69 years₹1,000
- Females up to 69 years₹1,500
- All patients aged 70 years and above₹1,700
- Expenditure: ₹1.13 crore
- Budget Provision: ₹1.86 crore
- Beneficiaries: 1,021
Transgender Pension
- Eligibility & Amount:
- Transgender up to 69 years → ₹1,000 per month
- Transgender aged 70 years and above → ₹1,700 per month
- Expenditure: ₹1.23 lakh
- Budget Provision: ₹9.00 lakh
- Beneficiaries: 50
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (BPL)
- Eligibility:
- Persons (Male) aged 60–69 years belonging to BPL households₹1,000
- Females aged 60–69 years in BPL households → ₹1,500 per month
- Persons aged 70 years and above belonging to BPL households → ₹1,700 per month
Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (BPL) (continued)
- Expenditure: ₹31.86 crore
- Budget Provision: ₹44.10 crore
Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension
- Eligibility & Amount:
- Widows aged 40–69 years in BPL households → ₹1,500 per month
- Widows aged 70 years and above in BPL households → ₹1,700 per month
- Expenditure: ₹7.19 crore
- Budget Provision: ₹9.85 crore
- Beneficiaries: 25,414
Indira Gandhi National Specially Disabled Pension
- Eligibility:
- Divyangjans with ≥80% disability in BPL households
- Amount: ₹1,700 per month
- Expenditure: ₹37.19 lakh
- Budget Provision: ₹53.00 lakh
Beneficiaries: 1,340
Table 15.3
Major Welfare Schemes for SCs, STs, OBCs and Minorities
Award for Inter-caste Marriage
- Incentive provided to promote inter-caste marriages
- Incentive amount enhanced from ₹ 50,000 to ₹ 2,00,000
- Effective from November 2025
- FY 2025–26:
- Budget provision: ₹5.10 crore
- 493 couples benefited
- Expenditure: ₹2.18 crore up to December 2025
Swaran Jayanti Ashray Yojana (Housing Subsidy)
- Provides housing subsidy of ₹1.5 lakh per family
- For eligible SC, ST, OBC beneficiaries
- Annual income below ₹50,000
- Purpose: Construction of dwelling units
- FY 2025–26:
- Budget provision: ₹6.00 crore
Training and Proficiency in Computer Applications and Allied Activities
- Provides training in computer courses:
- PGDCA.DCA
- Through empanelled agencies
- Target beneficiaries:
- SC/ST/OBC/Minorities
- Divyangjan
- Single women and widows
- Department support:
- Bears training cost
- Provides stipend during training
- Provides six-month placement in Government offices
Follow-up Programme
- Provides financial assistance to SC and OBC beneficiaries
- Annual income up to ₹50,000
- Purpose: Purchase of tools and equipment
- Assistance:
- ₹1,300 for traditional trades
- ₹1,800 for sewing machines
- FY 2025–26 Budget provision: ₹1.18 crore
Compensation to Victims under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
- Provides compensation to victims of atrocities
- Amount range: ₹85,000 to ₹8.25 lakh
- FY 2025–26:
- Budget provision: ₹3.59 crore
- ₹2.01 crore disbursed
- 325 victims benefited up to December 2025
Assistance to Civil Service Coaching
- Provides one-time financial assistance of ₹30,000
- For bonafide Himachali candidates
- Condition: Qualifying Civil Services Preliminary Examination
Prevention of Drug Abuse
- Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) operated:
- In collaboration with NGOs
- With Grant-in-Aid support from:
- Government of India
- State Government
- Awareness activities conducted:
- Nukkad Nataks
- Campaigns in educational institutions
- FY 2025–26:
- Demand of ₹14.95 crore placed with GoI
- Additional grant of ₹0.50 crore received
- For 5th anniversary of Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (NMBA)
Grant-in-Aid to Voluntary Organizations (Old Age Homes)
- Grant-in-Aid provided to NGOs running:
- Old Age Homes
- Day Care Centres
- Varishth Nagrik Suvidha Kendras
- Objective: Welfare of destitute senior citizens
- FY 2025–26:
- Budget provision: f ₹3.00 crore
- ₹1.61 crore utilized up to December 2025
Table 15.4
Welfare Schemes for Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjans)
Scholarship to Divyangjans
- Scholarship provided to children with disabilities (≥40%)
- Purpose: Support education
- Rate of scholarship:
- ₹625 to ₹3750 per month for day scholars
- ₹1,875 to ₹5,000 per month for boarders
- Varies based on class of study
- Budget provision (FY 2025–26): ₹1.28 crore
Incentive for Marriage to Persons with Disabilities
- One-time incentive grant to encourage marriage with Divyangjans
- Amount:
- ₹25,000 for disability 40–74%
- ₹50,000 for disability ≥75%
- Budget provision (FY 2025–26): ₹70 lakh
Institutions for Children with Special Needs (ICSA)
- Three institutions located at:
- Dhalli (Shimla)
- Dari (Dharamshala)
- Sundernagar (Mandi)
- Provide:
- Education services
- Vocational rehabilitation services
- Target:
- Children with visual, hearing and locomotor impairments
- Budget provision (FY 2025–26): ₹1.96 crore
District Rehabilitation Centres (DRCs)
- Two centres functioning at:
- Hamirpur
- Dharamshala
- Provide:
- Rehabilitation services
- Counselling
- Assistive support for persons with disabilities
Rehabilitation of Mentally Ill Cured Persons
- Two halfway homes:
- Female home at Kunihar (District Solan)
- Male home at Nagchalla (District Mandi)
- Operated through NGOs
- Purpose:
- Rehabilitation
- Social reintegration of mentally ill cured persons
Unique Disability ID (UDID) Cards
- Universal disability identity cards issued
- Issued after medical examination by competent authority
- Purpose:
- Ensure uniform and integrated system of disability certification
- Implemented as Centrally Sponsored initiative
Festival Grant
- Provided to:
- Residents of Special Homes
- Old Age Homes
- Institutions
- Purpose: Celebration of eight main festivals
- Grant amount:
- ₹500 per resident
- ₹5,000 for institutions with up to 25 residents
₹10,000 for institutions with more than 25 residents
Table 15.5
Various schemes provide shelter, support and rehabilitation for women and children
Special homes provide care, protection and rehabilitation to vulnerable women.
State Home-cum-Protective Home, Mashobra
- Objective:
- Provide shelter, food, clothing, education, training and rehabilitation support
- Target groups:
- Young widows
- Deserted women without support
- Women in moral danger
- Women admitted under court orders
- Mentally challenged or disabled women
- 16 residents currently living
- Rehabilitation support after leaving Home:
- Financial assistance up to ₹25,000 per woman
- ₹51,000 Marriage assistance provided
- FY 2025–26:
- Budget provision: ₹0.50 crore
- ₹0.30 crore utilized up to December 2025
One-Stop Centre (OSC)
- Centrally Sponsored Scheme
- Provides integrated support under one roof to women affected by violence
- Services include:
- Medical aid
- Legal assistance
- Psychological counselling
- Emergency and non-emergency support
- Centres functional at all district headquarters
- Additional OSC at Rampur (District Shimla)
- FY 2025–26:
- Budget provision: ₹2.48 crore
- ₹2.14 crore utilized up to December 2025
- 1,127 women benefited
Saksham Gudiya Board
- Objective:
- Make policy recommendations for:
- Empowerment of girl child
- Safety and security
- Make policy recommendations for:
- Functions:
- Review implementation of programmes
- Across various departments
- For protection and upliftment of girls
Mukhya Mantri Sukh-Ashray Yojana
- Provides comprehensive care and protection to:
- Orphans
- Semi-orphans
- Specially-abled children
- Abandoned and surrendered children
- Transgender children
- Destitute and single women
- Support continues until self-reliance
- Notified on 28 February 2023
- Corpus fund: ₹101.00 crore
- Supports higher education and skill development
- Includes voluntary donations and CSR contributions
- FY 2025–26 (up to 31 Dec 2025):
- 4,131 children covered
- Budget provision: ₹35.03 crore
- ₹25.78 crore utilised
Targeted interventions ensure care, protection, and rehabilitation of vulnerable groups.
Mission Vatsalya Scheme
- Earlier known as Child Protection Scheme
- Implemented since 17 September 2012
- Objective:
- Provide care and protection to:
- Children in Need of Care and Protection (CNCP)
- Children in Conflict with Law (CICL)
- Provide care and protection to:
- Institutional care through 61 Child Care Institutions
- 1,246 children benefited
- Non-institutional care:
- 3,227 children under foster care/sponsorship
- 117 children under after-care services
- Period: 1 April 2025 – 31 December 2025
- FY 2025–26:
- Budget provision: ₹61.36 crore
- ₹29.45 crore utilized up to December 2025
Rehabilitation Support to Minor Victims of Rape and Child Abuse and Objectification
- Objective:
- Restore dignity and self-confidence
- Support includes:
- Counselling
- Financial security
- Skill up-gradation
- Rehabilitation and livelihood support
- On confirmation of crime:
- ₹7,500 per month provided
- Up to age of 21 years
- 384 beneficiaries received support
Anganwadi Services
- Provides:
- Supplementary nutrition
- Health education
- Immunization
- Health check-ups
- Referral services
- Pre-school education
- From 1 April 2025:
- All centres declared “Anganwadi-cum-Preschool”
- FY 2025–26:
- ₹129.62 crore utilized up to December 2025
Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) and Bal Poshahaar Top-up Yojana
- Provides supplementary nutrition to:
- Children (6 months–6 years)
- Pregnant and lactating mothers
- Severely malnourished children
- Purpose: Bridge dietary gaps
- FY 2025–26 beneficiaries:
- Children (number not specified)
- 63,986 pregnant and lactating mothers
- 1,489 severely malnourished children
- Budget:
- ₹71.10 crore (Central) under SNP
- ₹7.90 crore (State) under SNP
- ₹21.00 crore under Bal Poshahaar Top-up Yojana
- ₹51.06 crore utilised up to December 2025
Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG)
- Implemented in District Chamba (aspirational district)
- Objective:
- Improve nutritional and health status of adolescent girls (14–18 years)
- FY 2025–26:
- 14,943 girls benefited
- Budget provision: ₹4.78 crore
- ₹2.32 crore utilized up to December 2025
Some other State Schemes
Mukhya Mantri Kanyadaan Yojna
- Objective:
- Provide financial assistance of ₹51,000 for marriage of girls
- Target: Economically weaker and socially vulnerable families
- Focus on cases where father is deceased or incapacitated due to:
- Physical disability
- Mental disability
- Prolonged illness
- FY 2025–26 Budget: ₹9.39 crore
- Utilisation (up to Dec 2025): ₹0.93 crore
- Beneficiaries: 182
Widow Re-marriage Scheme
- Objective:
- Facilitate social and economic rehabilitation of widows
- Promote widow remarriage
- Provide financial support to couples
- Reduce social vulnerability and stigma of widowhood
- FY 2025–26 Budget: ₹4.67 crore
- Utilisation (up to Dec 2025): ₹0.91 crore
- Beneficiaries: 45
Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojna
- Objective:
- Ensure uninterrupted education of children of:
- Widowed women
- Destitute women
- Abandoned women
- Disabled parents
- Provide financial and educational support
- Coverage: Early childhood up to 27 years (higher/professional education)
- Ensure uninterrupted education of children of:
- FY 2025–26 Budget: ₹23.37 crore
- Utilisation (up to Dec 2025): ₹22.21 crore
- Beneficiaries: 21,588
Vishesh Mahila Uthan Yojna
- Objective:
- Rehabilitate marginalised women, especially sex workers
- Provide vocational training and skill development
- Promote:
- Alternative livelihood opportunities
- Self-reliance
- Social and economic mainstreaming
- Support:
- Stipend ₹3,000 per month
- Test fee support₹ 800
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
- Objective:
- Prevent gender-biased sex-selective practices
- Improve child sex ratio
- Promote:
- Education of girl child
- Safety and empowerment
- Through:
- Awareness generation
- Community engagement
- Behavioural change
- FY 2025–26 Budget: ₹1.55 crore
- Utilisation (up to Dec 2025): ₹1.07 crore
- Details: 395 camps organised
Beti Hai Anmol Yojna
- Objective:
- Change negative societal attitudes towards:
- Girl child
- Mother
- Improve:
- Enrolment
- Retention
- Continuation of girls’ education
- Change negative societal attitudes towards:
- Support:
- Post-birth financial assistance of ₹21,000
- Scholarships for BPL families
- FY 2025–26 Budget: ₹1.00 crore
- Utilisation (up to Dec 2025): ₹0.68 crore
- Beneficiaries: 319
Mukhya Mantri Shagun Yojna
- Objective:
- Provide financial assistance of ₹31,000
- For girls from BPL families at marriage
- Reduce financial burden on economically weaker households
- FY 2025–26 Budget: ₹19.47 crore
- Utilisation (up to Dec 2025): ₹3.47 crore
- Beneficiaries: 1,118
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna (PMMVY)
37,788 (2nd child instalment)
Objective:
Provide partial wage compensation to:
Pregnant women
Lactating women
Enable adequate rest before and after childbirth
Improve:
Maternal and child health outcomes
Health-seeking behaviour
Promote positive behavioural change towards girl child
FY 2025–26 Budget: ₹29.84 crore
Utilisation (up to Dec 2025): ₹28.04 crore
Beneficiaries:
34,372 (1st child instalment)
