HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Aug 6: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday asserted that his government is committed to bringing down the number of child marriages in the state to zero by 2026.
He said the second edition of the ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme will enable the eradication of the menace.
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“We have renewed our fight against child marriage with the launch of Nijut Moina 2.0, which will cover over 4 lakh girls in Assam, saving them from child marriage and giving wings to their educational dreams,” Sarma said, while launching the second edition of the scheme here by distributing forms to girl students.
It marked a major step towards empowering girl students and eliminating child marriage across Assam.
The launch event was held at the Birinchi Kumar Barua Auditorium in Gauhati University, where the Chief Minister described the scheme as a “tool to eradicate child marriage” and affirmed the government’s commitment to bringing such marriages down to zero by 2026.
According to an official statement, the second phase of the scheme significantly expands its coverage, targeting around four lakh girl students enrolled in Higher Secondary (HS), Undergraduate (UG), Postgraduate (PG), and B.Ed programmes. Eligible students will receive monthly financial assistance of ₹1,000 at the HS level, ₹1,250 at the UG level, and ₹2,500 at the PG level.
The scheme, Sarma said, is designed not just to offer monetary aid but to serve as a foundation for long-term social transformation through academic empowerment.
Under Nijut Moina 2.0, students in the first and second years of HS, UG, and PG programmes will be covered.
From next year, final-year undergraduate students will also be included, with a goal of achieving 100% coverage of girl students.
The chief minister said the scheme will gradually extend to benefit up to ten lakh girls across the state.
While Nijut Moina 1.0 included only state universities and provincialised colleges, the expanded version will also include central universities such as Tezpur University and Assam University.
The scheme will now support students enrolled in self-financing courses as well, a move that Sarma described as necessary to ensure that no girl is left behind due to institutional affiliations or economic background.
Highlighting the inclusive nature of state-sponsored education initiatives, Sarma said that schemes such as Nijut Moina and Orunodoi are positively impacting students across all castes, tribes, and religions.
He underlined the government’s efforts to open new avenues of opportunity by significantly expanding the higher education network across the state.
The chief minister observed that the educational landscape in Assam has undergone a dramatic transformation.
The state today boasts 25 medical colleges in various stages of operation, more than 25 universities, and nearly 400 general colleges.
Institutions of national importance like IIT-Guwahati, AIIMS, IIIT, and the upcoming Swahid Kanaklata Baruah University are contributing to what he termed an “academic revolution.”
Alongside these, the presence of Sainik Schools, Navodaya Vidyalayas, Kendriya Vidyalayas, and Adarsha Vidyalayas has enriched the learning ecosystem, placing Assam among the top ten states in terms of institutional presence relative to population density.
Sarma also reiterated that girl students have a crucial role to play in building a “New Assam.”
He said the youth of the state are now more self-reliant, determined, and aspirational than ever, and girl students must be at the forefront of this transformation.
Referring to the battle against child marriage, the chief minister said, “We have renewed our tirade against child marriage. With the launch of Nijut Moina 2.0, four lakh girl students will save themselves from the scourge of child marriage while fulfilling their dreams of being academically empowered.”
Applications distributed during the launch event are to be submitted to the respective institutions. The data will be uploaded through the SCERT, Darpan, and Samarth digital portals to ensure timely processing and transparency.
The event was attended by education minister Ranoj Pegu, vice chancellor of Gauhati University Prof Nani Gopal Mahanta, secretary of school and higher education Narayan Konwar, and several other dignitaries. Ministers, MLAs, principals, and students from across the state also joined the central function virtually.
