Guwahati, 6 October (HS): Taking his government's fight against child marriage to the decisive stage, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, while launching the process of distributing monthly financial assistance under the Nijut Maina Scheme across the state, handed over cheques to girl students of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural) and Morigaon districts at a function held at Khanapara here on Sunday.
Chief Minister Dr. Sarma launched the monthly financial assistance scheme, Nijut Maina, on August 8. The scheme has been envisaged to encourage girl students to pursue higher studies and fight against child marriage. As a part of this scheme, monthly financial assistance will be given to girl students from HS to PG level in government aided educational institutions. The financial assistance will be given for 10 months in an academic year. A girl student in HS first year will be entitled to ₹10,000 i.e. ₹1000 every month for 10 months. A girl student at graduation level will be entitled to ₹12,500 and a girl student at PG level will be entitled to ₹25,000 i.e. ₹2500 every month for 10 months.
He said that in the next three years, the state government has set a target of covering 10 lakh students under this scheme. An elaborate program was organized today to provide cheques in all the assembly constituencies across the state. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma distributed cheques to 24,384 eligible girl students of Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup (Rural) and Morigaon districts.
In his address on the occasion, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma termed October 6 as a historic day for girls' education and said that girls' education in the state started in 1935 itself, but now it has got new momentum through the Nijut Maina scheme.
He said, On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, our campaign against child marriage has reached a decisive stage, as we have started distributing monthly financial assistance under the Nijut Maina scheme. On the 11th of every month, our daughters will get a fixed payment to study in college or university.
The Chief Minister also said that this initiative, launched on August 8, will bring a big change in fighting child marriage. He said that Nijut Maina will encourage positive social outcomes. It will provide funds and support for higher education. Will reduce family expenses and prevent child marriage by encouraging girls to continue their higher education.
Dr. Sarma said that 10 lakh girl students will be benefited under the Nijut Maina scheme at a cost of ₹1500 crore. In the first year, over 1.6 lakh girls will get ₹240 crore. To be eligible for the Nijut Maina scheme, a girl student should be regular in her classes, she should be disciplined and should give good results. A girl student should be unmarried till PG level. Daughters of ministers, MPs and MLAs will not get the benefit of this scheme.
Referring to the problems responsible for some students dropping out of studies, Chief Minister Dr. Sarma said that the state government is trying to help the students and encourage their studies through schemes like distribution of bicycles to class nine students, free enrollment of girls from class eleven to postgraduate level, free textbooks to students of class nine and ten, scooty to girl students for good results in higher secondary.
Dr. Sarma said that the positive results of the government's previous efforts have led the government to today's direction. He said that studies have shown how curbing child marriage in Assam has reduced maternal and infant mortality. With the introduction of Nijut Maina, the last nail has been hammered in the coffin of this social evil (child marriage). He also explained in detail about his plans to end child marriage by 2026.
During this, Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Water Resources etc. Minister Pijush Hazarika, MP Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLA Bhabesh Kalita, Minister Atul Bora, MLAs Hemang Thakuria, Diganta Kalita, Suman Haripriya, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota, Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dr. KK Dwivedi and many other dignitaries were present on the occasion.
Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
