Assam announces stipend scheme 'Nijut Moina' for girl students to end child marriage

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on June 12 announced that the state government will provide monthly stipends to girl students through a scheme 'Nijut Moina', which aims to combat early marriage among girl students, inspiring them instead to pursue their education up to the postgraduate level.
 

Informing that the girl students who enrol themselves in institutes for higher studies will receive monthly stipend from the state government, the Assam chief minister said, “Under the scheme, girl students who join classes 11 and 12 will get a monthly stipend of Rs 1000; students joining graduation courses will receive a stipend of Rs 1250, while girls who enrol themselves for postgraduate courses will be given a monthly stipend of Rs 2500 from Assam government.”
 

Furthermore, the Assam CM also informed that the monthly stipend will be transferred to the girl students on the 11th of every month, in turn reducing the economic hardships and burden on parents and guardians. He informed that the government has approved the scheme and stated that the government aims to take responsibility for the education of girls upon its shoulders.
 

Asserting that the scheme is likely to increase the enrollment ratio of girls in higher institutions, CM Himanta highlighted a stark contrast with a previous scheme where the government provided scooties to girl students who achieved a first division. As a result of this previous scheme, there was an upliftment in the number of girls achieving first division.
 

Meanwhile, the Assam CM also informed that the scheme is expected to require an annual outflow of approximately 300-350 crore. However, he noted that the amount would rise to Rs 1500 crore per year in due course of time as the number of students increases.