category Regional, shimla, , tags Regional, shimla, , DW BUREAU Shimla Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu celebrated his 59th birthday as a gesture of kindness by distributing sweets and his birthday cake to the girls of Balika Ashram Tutikandi, Shimla today. A cultural programme was also organised by the girls to celebrate the occasion. Chief Minister said that the state government had launched the Mukhya Mantri Sukh Ashray Yojana for 6000 orphans in the state and a scheme focusing on special children is also being formulated, which would be announced shortly. The scheme would be aiming to enhance the capabilities of specially-abled children and help them build their aspirations and livelihoods. Earlier, a large number of people from different walks of life gathered at Chief Ministers official residence Oak Over to extend their heartfelt wishes for his good health and long life. Chief Minister s wife, Kamlesh Thakur, who is also the Chairperson of State Red Cross Hospital Welfare Section, was present on the occasion. At the State Secretariat, the Chief Minister honoured the Kabaddi team of HP Secretariat Services Sports Control Board, who bagged first position in All India Civil Services Kabaddi Championship held at Dehradun. He announced Rs. one Lakh to the winning team. The celebrations continued with the Chief Minister participating in an awareness walk, along with hundreds of volunteers, which started from Secretariat and culminated at Oak Over, which aimed at raising awareness about road safety. Chief Minister also attended a blood donation camp at the Ridge and a cultural program at the Gaiety Theatre organised by Synergistic Youth social and Cultural Organization. Speaking on the occasion, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the government is going to enact stringent law to curb drug abuse besides taking many steps to improve education in the state. Senior Congress Leader Sonia Gandhi extended her wishes via a tweet, while Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla and Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri conveyed their birthday greetings to the Chief Minister over the phone. Speaker HP Vidhan Sabha Kuldeep Singh Pathania, Ministers, MLAs, Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of various Boards and Corporations, senior Civil and Police officers and people from all over the State were present on the occasion. (editor dailyworld.in)