Shimla: The state government has decided to confer one time scholarship of Rs. 10,000 each to ten boys and ten girls living in Bal Ashrams topping in joint merit list of the Bal Ashrams/Bal Grih of the state, from 8th to 12th standard annual examinations under the Mukhya Mantri Bal Uddhar Yojana.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, in the state level closing ceremony of sports and cultural meet for children living in orphanage of the state organised by the Directorate of Women and Child Development department here at Balika Ashram, Tutikandi, today, assured to provide all possible help to students of the Ashrams to ensure their better education.

He said that need of the hour was to bring out the best from within such children by providing them facility of good teachers and also giving exposure visits in different parts of the country so that they could themselves see and feel the distinct culture and customs of India. He said that he recently visited this Ashram on Diwali and was impressed by the talent of the students.

The state has 48 registered Ashrams and eleven were being run by the state government.

He announced that all the 1500 students would be provided warm jackets by 15th of December this year.