Guwahati, 8th August: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on August 8 unveiled the “Nijut Moina” scheme, aimed at curbing child marriage and promoting female education. The initiative, approved by the state cabinet, will provide monthly stipends to female students from Class 11 through to post-graduation.
The scheme, with a budget allocation of Rs 1,500 crore, is expected to benefit approximately 10 lakh students. The financial support will be disbursed as follows:
- Class XI students: ₹1,000 per month for 10 months, totaling ₹10,000.
- First-year undergraduate students (B.A., B.Sc., B.Com.): ₹1,250 per month for 10 months, totaling ₹12,500.
- First-year post-graduate students (BEd, M.A., M.Sc., M.Com.): ₹2,500 per month for 10 months, totaling ₹25,000. This includes merging the Mobility grant from the Pragyan Bharati scheme with Nijut Moina.
For the current academic session, benefits will be provided for 9 months. Starting from the second year, students will only need a certificate from their institution to continue receiving benefits, eliminating the need for a new application.
The scheme excludes daughters of MLAs, MPs, and ministers to ensure equitable distribution of funds. It complements the government’s existing ‘Free Admission’ scheme and aims to encourage higher education among female students while addressing child marriage issues.
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