Born in 2001 in Oyal village under Bilaspur Sadar Tehsil, Shubham lost both his parents shortly after birth. Deprived of parental care, he was raised by his grandparents, who supported him through extreme financial and emotional hardship. However, tragedy struck again when his grandfather passed away, leaving the family without any source of income. The situation deteriorated to the point where even basic meals became difficult to arrange.
Despite these challenges, Shubham continued his education and completed his studies up to Class 12. Determined to survive with dignity, he learned the skills of a hairdresser and began searching for a means to earn a livelihood. However, starting a business with limited resources remained a significant challenge.
His life changed after he received support under the Chief Minister Sukh Ashray Scheme. Through the programme, he began receiving monthly financial assistance of 4,000 rupees, which provided crucial stability during his early struggle. In addition, the government extended startup support of 200,000 rupees, enabling him to establish his own hairdressing business.
With this assistance, Shubham launched his salon, “Shubh Artistic,” in Bilaspur city. Today, he successfully manages the business and earns a dignified livelihood. He states that without the scheme, he might have been lost in the struggle for survival and forced to fight for basic necessities.
Officials have highlighted the broader impact of the scheme. According to Narendra Kumar, District Programme Officer, Department of Women and Child Development, Bilaspur, a total of 154 eligible beneficiaries were supported in the financial year 2025–26 under the Chief Minister Sukh Ashray Scheme. Approximately 16.9 million rupees were spent across various components.
This includes social security assistance for 154 children amounting to 8.3 million rupees, marriage grants provided to 15 beneficiaries totaling 3 million rupees, housing assistance for 16 beneficiaries worth 2.9 million rupees, and higher education support for 12 children amounting to approximately 750,000 rupees. Additionally, vocational education support was extended in 5 cases with 88,000 rupees, and startup assistance was provided in 6 cases totaling 740,000 rupees. Exposure visits were also organized for 22 children along with other welfare interventions.
Deputy Commissioner of Bilaspur, Rahul Kumar, stated that the Chief Minister Sukh Ashray Scheme is a flagship initiative of the state government aimed at supporting eligible children through financial aid and rehabilitation measures. He emphasized that the administration is committed to ensuring effective implementation of government welfare schemes so that maximum eligible beneficiaries receive timely support.
The story of Shubham reflects a broader transformation driven by structured welfare support, turning vulnerability into empowerment and enabling disadvantaged youth to build stable and dignified livelihoods.
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