Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh on Wednesday laid the foundation stone of an orphanage near here to be constructed with an outlay of Rs 8 crore.
He directed the authorities to complete the construction within nine months.
The Modern Children Home or Adarsh Balika Grah at Mashobra, besides having a hostel to accommodate 100 children, will also have amusement facilities, including indoor games.
Singh said the government also proposed to construct a residential institution in Shimla for 50 mentally challenged children which would be run in partnership with a non-governmental organisation.
In order to cater to needs of visually, hearing and physically challenged, he issued directions to ensure their enrolment in Special Industrial Training Institute in Sundernagar and constructions of a special hostel for 150 girls with an expenditure of Rs 10 crore in this financial year.