Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu interacted virtually with 17 ‘Children of the State’ from Aparajita Bal Ashram, Bhaged, Bilaspur district, who are on a two-day educational and recreational exposure visit. The interaction took place from the Dharamshala, as the children joined via video conferencing from Wagah Border, after witnessing Beating Retreat ceremony. During their two-day trip, which will conclude on January 24, the children will visit Amritsar, Wagah Border, Golden Temple, Jallianwala Bagh, and Science City Kapurthala.
The Chief Minister asked eight-year-old Ajay about his day, to which the child responded enthusiastically, saying he enjoyed watching the parade at Wagah Border and exploring the museum. When asked how he felt, Ajay replied, “It was a lot of fun.” Another child, Krish Kumar, shared that witnessing the parade for the first time filled him with energy and inspired him to set a goal of joining the BSF.
Sagar expressed that it was his first time traveling away from home and that he and his peers were thoroughly enjoying the experience. The CM said that the government has adopted all orphaned children as ‘Children of the State’ and is responsible for their care, education, and recreational activities.
He assured the children that they would be sent on trips to new destinations next year to help them learn and grow. He said that all the ‘Children of the state’ are like family to him. Lakshya Thakur thanked the CM, saying that due to his vision, they are receiving excellent facilities and care.
When the CM asked about their plans for the next day, the children shared that they would visit the Golden Temple.The CM also inquired about their accommodations and asked them to provide feedback on whether the arrangements were satisfactory.
He informed them that the state government ensures children on such trips are accommodated in three-star hotels. He said that recently, 22 children from Shimla district returned after a 13-day trip to Goa.
The Chief Minister stated that similarly, children from other districts will also be sent on educational and recreational tours to different parts of the country. He added that such experiences contribute to the overall development of children and provide them with an opportunity to closely understand the diverse cultural and historical heritage of the country.
The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to the BSF officers at Wagah Border for their hospitality and the exceptional arrangements made for the children. He personally thanked them for ensuring the children had a memorable experience.
MLA Sudarshan Bablu and senior officials were also present during the interaction.