Guwahati, Oct 6: Taking his government’s war against child marriage to a decisive phase, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma initiated the process of disbursing monthly financial assistance under Nijut Moina across the state and presented cheques to girl students of Kamrup (M), Kamrup and Morigaon districts at a function held at Khanapara here today.
It may be noted that Chief Minister Dr. Sarma launched Nijut Moina, a monthly financial assistance scheme, on 8 August, 2024. The scheme has been envisaged to encourage the girl students to pursue their higher studies and fight against child marriage.
As a part of the scheme, monthly financial assistance will be given to girl students from HS to PG level in government and government aided educational institutions. Financial support will be given for 10 months in an academic year. A student in HS First year will be entitled to Rs. 10 thousand that is Rs. 1 thousand every month for 10 months. A student at graduate level will be entitled to Rs. 12,500 that is Rs. 1250 every month and PG level student will be entitled to 25,000 that is Rs. 2500 every month for 10 months in a year. In the next three years, State government has set the target of incorporating 10 lakh students under the scheme.
An elaborate programme has been organized in all Legislative Assembly Constituencies across the state for presenting cheques. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma presented cheques to 24384 eligible girl students from Kamrup (M), Kamrup and Morigaon districts.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma termed October 6 as a historic day for girls education and said that though girls’ education in the state started way back in 1935, the same seems to have received a new momentum through the Nijut Moina scheme. He also said, “On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, our tirade against child marriage has entered into a decisive phase as we began disbursing monthly financial assistance under Nijut Moina. On 11th of every month, our daughter will receive fixed payments to be in college or universities”.
The Chief Minister moreover said that launched on 8 August, 2024, the initiative will be a game changer to fight child marriage. He said that Nijut Moina incentivises positive social outcomes, funds and support higher education, reduces family expenses and stops child marriage by encouraging girls continue their higher education.
Dr. Sarma moreover said that Nijut Moina envisaged to cover 10 lakh students with an outlay of Rs. 1500 crore. In the first year, over 1.6 lakh girls will get Rs. 240 crore. To be able to be qualified for Nijut Moina scheme, a girl student has to be regular in her classes, she has to be disciplined and perform good results. A girl student needs to be unmarried till P.G level and daughters of Ministers, MPs and MLAs will not be entitled to this scheme.
Stating the problems which are responsible for discontinuance of studies of some students, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that through the schemes like distribution of bicycles to students of Class IX, free enrolment of girls from Class XI to Post Graduate level, free text books to the students of Class IX and X, scooty for the girl students in recognition to their good results in Higher Secondary, State government has been trying to help students and incentivise their studies.
Dr. Sarma pointed out that overwhelming evidence of its past efforts has steered the government in today’s direction. He said that studies have demonstrated how Assam’s crack down on child marriage has arrested maternal and infant mortality rate. With the launching of Nijut Moina this social evil (child marriage) got a final nail in the coffin. He also elaborated his plans for eradicating child marriage by 2026.
Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Minister Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, Guwahati Lok Sabha MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLA Bhabesh Kalita, Atul Bora, Hemanga Thakuria, Diganta Kalita, Suman Haripriya, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. KK Dwivedi, and host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
