Key Points
- New ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme launched to help girl students in Assam.
- First cash payouts handed out to girls in Guwahati and across the state.
- Monthly cash: ₹1,000 for higher secondary, ₹1,250 for degree, and ₹2,500 for post-grads.
- Aim is to lower dropout rates and stop early marriages.
- Cash will go straight into students’ bank accounts for 10 months a year.
- Government’s also thinking about a similar scheme for boys later on.
Looma News
On October 6, 2024, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a big move for girls’ education by launching the ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme. He handed out the first batch of monthly stipends to girl students, creating a lot of excitement across the state. This scheme, which started back in August, is all about giving financial help to girls from Class 11 to post-grad level. During a fun event in Guwahati, cheques were handed out, and similar events happened all over the state, marking a big step for female students.
The Chief Minister talked about the two main goals of the program: boosting women’s education and tackling child marriage. He pointed out that many girls drop out of school because of money issues, work obligations, or getting married too soon. With these stipends—₹1,000 for higher secondary, ₹1,250 for degree courses, and ₹2,500 for post-grads—the government hopes to keep girls in school longer, making sure they at least graduate before thinking about marriage.
Money Matters
With this scheme, all eligible girls can benefit, no matter their financial situation, except for those in private colleges. Starting next month, the cash will go directly into students’ bank accounts for ten months a year, taking a break during June and July for summer vacation. But there’s a catch: students need to keep their conduct in check to keep getting the cash. If a girl gets married before finishing her degree, she’ll lose her stipend.
Mr. Sarma also mentioned that this is just the start. He believes in gender equality and insists that society can’t move forward until women’s education is a given. In response to critics who say the government is just creating ‘beneficiaries,’ he argued that this scheme is all about building a new generation of educated women ready to lead Assam into the future.
What’s Next?
Looking ahead, the government is also thinking about a scheme for boys in the next budget, showing a broader vision for inclusive education in the state. They’ve budgeted around ₹1,500 crore for this initiative over five years, aiming to cover about 10 lakh girls, with the first year alone needing ₹300 crore for around 200,000 students. This ambitious project shows a solid commitment to changing the game for girls’ education in Assam and setting a positive trend for future generations.
