HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Aug 8: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the formal launch of the ‘Nijut Moina Scheme’ – a monthly financial assistance scheme to increase female students’ enrolment in higher education and fight against child marriage at an event held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur on Thursday.
The scheme will provide financial assistance to girl students from HS to PG level in government and government-aided educational institutions on a monthly basis. The aid will be extended for a total of 10 months in an academic year.
A student in her first year in the HS will receive Rs 10 thousand, i.e., Rs 1000/month for 10 months.
A student at the graduate level will be entitled to Rs. 12,500, i.e., Rs. 1250/month for the same duration while a PG level student will be entitled to 25,000, i.e., Rs 2500/month. The monetary assistance will be transferred through DBT from October 10, 2024.
Notably, the scheme will also complement the already ongoing ‘free admission’ scheme of the government.
Sarma on the occasion said that the launching of the Nijut Moina Scheme has a core social message which is to end child marriage. The Rs 1500 crore scheme will benefit 10 lakh girls in the state in the next four years
In view of the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, he said that 31.8% of women between ages 20-24 in Assam have become mothers which means most of them get married before 18 years of age. As a result, they are deprived of adequate nutrition and education.
Various surveys suggest that in districts like Dhubri and South Salmara, more than 50% of women marry before they attain the age of 18. In fact, some of the surveys even indicate that some of the girls embrace motherhood even at the age of 12-13 years. Amidst such rising concerns, Dr Sarma highlighted that though laws have been passed to end child marriage, education is the only deterrent to discourage child marriage.
According to the Chief Minister, while approximately 3 lakh girls study up to Class X, enrolment in Higher Secondary reduces drastically. One of the prime reasons is their unstable financial condition which compels them to end their studies mid-way.
Sarma also said that to end the evils of child marriage, vocational education also plays a great role. Vocational education enables a girl to get employment, which becomes a source of motivation for the parents as well as the girls.
Additionally, the Chief Minister said that in November and December, there will be another operation against child marriage. He also informed that for Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award under the Pragyan Bharati scheme, the eligible students will be given a scooter in the month of November.
It must be noted that a girl student will be entitled to the benefits of the scheme in the second year provided she has regular attendance and she does not indulge in ragging.
Moreover, if a girl is married during her HS and Degree days, she will be barred from the benefits of the scheme. Similarly, the daughters of MLAs, MPs and Ministers will not be eligible for the scheme.
