In an effort to stop child marriages in the state, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday announced that his government would provide a monthly stipend to all girl students from Class 11 to post-graduation over the next five years.
While speaking to media, CM Sarma said, “The Assam government has announced today a unique scheme to fight against the early marriage of girl students and also to inspire them to continue their education up to the Post Graduate level.”
“The cabinet has approved the ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme, which estimated that Rs 1,500 crore would be required in five years to give the incentives to around 10 lakh girls”, Assam CM stated.
“Under this scheme, a girl student who joins in Higher Secondary, 1st and 2nd year that is class 11th and 12th, will get a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 from the state government. The girl students who will get themselves admitted in degree courses, Graduation courses, will get Rs 1,250 per month from the government. Those who are pursuing Post Graduation will get Rs 2,500 per month from the state govt”, CM Sarma said.
CM Sarma further added, “We want to prevent child marriage through this scheme and want to take the responsibility of girls’ education on the shoulders of the government.
Meanwhile, married girls are not eligible for this perk. The only exception will be those married girls who are enrolled in PG courses, they will also benefit, he added.
The scheme named Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina (MMNM) is expected to cover around one million girl students and cost the exchequer Rs.300 crore in the first year and around Rs.1,500 crore over a five-year period, he added.
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