https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Providing A Secured Childhood To Varanasi’s Orphans

IAS officer Himanshu Nagpal initiated Project Sidhi in Varanasi to provide a happy and secure childhood to orphaned children The project has identified and supported 1711 orphaned children and enrolled them in Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Scheme The initiative also involves engaging teachers and anganwadi workers to ensure sustained efforts to support these children
Indian Masterminds Stories

Project Siddhi is one in a slew of measures undertaken by Chief Development Officer of Varanasi, Himanshu Nagpal, IAS, to give the not-so-privileged a better quality life. This particular project is aimed at providing crucial support to orphaned children.

Under the IAS officer’s leadership, the Varanasi district administration has taken up the transformative project, which involves door-to-door screening of households to locate children in need and cover them with the CM Bal Seva Scheme; offering a scholarship of 2500 rupees per month; and providing them access to a range of around 14 government schemes.

PROJECT SIDDHI

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Himanshu Nagpal shared the inspiration behind the project. He recounted an incident at a local school where he noticed four girls absence for several days. Upon enquiry, he discovered that their father had passed away, leaving them without any support. The girls, unaware of the available government schemes due to the lack of a proper mechanism, were forced to work and thus miss out on education. For Mr. Nagpal, this encounter highlighted the urgent need for a structured approach to identify and assist such vulnerable children.

“In the schemes existence since last 2 years only 420 such families were identified. But because of hard efforts of Anganwadis and Teachers, 1711 kids have been enrolled in just one month,” the officer said.

FILLING THE GAP

Recognizing the gap in awareness, he launched Project Siddhi under the Mukhyamantri Bal Sewa Yojana. It was a month-long intensive campaign that involved collaboration with schools, anganwadi centers, and gram panchayats to identify orphaned children. Certificates of saturation were collected, and the community was encouraged to help these children fill out the required forms. “Through these efforts, 1711 orphaned children were successfully identified, ensuring they could access the benefits of the CM Bal Seva Scheme and other essential government programmes,” Mr. Nagpal said.

EXPANSION

Buoyed by the success of the initiative, the district administration expanded its outreach to include 13 other government schemes, such as ration cards, Ayushman cards, widow pensions, and national family benefits. Moreover, efforts are also underway to leverage Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives to provide educational support to these children. “Earlier, tablets were distributed to 250 children and plans are in motion to further enhance their educational opportunities through CSR collaborations,” the officer said.

CREATING AWARENESS

Awareness campaigns played a pivotal role in the success of Project Siddhi. Posters and banners outlining the procedures for filling out forms were displayed prominently in schools, anganwadi centers, and panchayats. Additionally, paintings were used to create visual awareness, ensuring that children and their families were well-informed about the available government schemes.

ENGAGING TEACHERS

To encourage active participation from teachers and anganwadi workers, the district administration recognized their efforts with appreciation certificates, fostering a sense of pride and recognition for their noble work. “We have received a positive feedback from these educators and Anganwadi workers which highlighted the project’s impact and the difference it made in the lives of these vulnerable children,” Mr. Nagpal said.

He further emphasized that the project is not a one-time effort but a sustained commitment to helping orphaned children access the support they deserve. The project will be repeated every 4-5 months, ensuring that no eligible child is left without the benefits of government schemes. As the initiative continues, it stands as an example to the power of community-driven efforts and government schemes in transforming the lives of the most marginalized members of society.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IFCI-Ltd
IFCI Limited Receives ROC Approval for Three-Month AGM Extension; Meeting Rescheduled to October 29, 2025
GAIL PSU
GAIL Launches Free CNG Scheme in East Singhbhum to Boost Clean Transportation and Green Mobility
Banking Laws Amendment Act 2025
Depositors Get More Control: New Rules under Banking Laws Amendment Act 2025 to Allow Up to 4 Nominations from 1 Nov 2025
NLC-INDIA-resized-neyvili
NLC India Limited Earns Independent “CRISIL ESG 49” Rating, Highlighting Strong Commitment to Sustainability
MECL__54th_Foundation_Day
MECL Celebrates 54th Foundation Day with Heartfelt Tribute and Guard of Honour to CMD Indra Dev Narayan
NMDC Steel Ltd
NMDC Revises Iron Ore Prices Effective October 22, 2025, Impacting Steel and Infrastructure Sectors
NCL_Special_Safety_Review_Workshop
NCL Hosts Special Safety Review Workshop to Strengthen Mine Safety Through Digitization and Technology
NTPC_Talcher_Kaniha_in_collaboration_with_KVIC_
NTPC Talcher Kaniha Hosts Khadi Mahotsav to Promote Sustainability and Empower Village Industries
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IFCI-Ltd
IFCI Limited Receives ROC Approval for Three-Month AGM Extension; Meeting Rescheduled to October 29, 2025
GAIL PSU
GAIL Launches Free CNG Scheme in East Singhbhum to Boost Clean Transportation and Green Mobility
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT