SHIMLA: Thousands of orphans living like the caged birds have a happy news to share on Lohri festival: They will now enjoy travel by air, stay in star hotels enjoying a 15-day long holiday trip for free across the country every year.  

Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu has shown a compassion and concern for the orphans by making this announcement here today.

This 15-day long free Holiday junket for orphans of  Himachal Pradesh has come as a Lohri and Makar Sankranti Gift to the  'children of lesser god' in the state.

These children remain otherwise as the caged birds in the Orphanages across the state.

This holiday trip will open a new world for them, enjoying the  fruits of advancements  made by the science and technology in the world. 

Like their privileged cousins, the orphans will now enjoy, a 15-day long holiday bonanza across   the country- for free.

There is no exact number as to how many orphans are in Himachal Pradesh as the state social justice department has cared two hoots to identify such children outside the institutionalised care  in the state.   

Chief Minister said they would identify such children so that all of them enjoy the free holiday trip to take their confidence level to next level, giving them a feel that somebody really care for them. 

This is a small gift to the orphans of Himachal Pradesh on the special occasion of Lohri, Pongal and Makar Sankranti.

Soon after he was sworn-in as Chief Minister Sukhu made no beeline to temple, but to the Balika Ashram in Tuttikandi  in Shimla, giving the 'Children of Lesser God' a feel that their real Messiah has come to take care of them. 

Much remains to be seen as to how the State's Sarkari Tantra takes Sukhu's Vision for the less privileged to the ground  level in letter and spirit.