Assam introduces ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme to curb child marriages

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced the “Nijut Moina” scheme on Wednesday (June 12), aiming to combat child marriages by providing monthly stipends to all girl students from Class 11 to post-graduation over the next five years.

Briefing the media, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed that the cabinet had greenlit the scheme, estimating a total expenditure of Rs 1500 crore over the five-year period to extend incentives to approximately 10 lakh girls.

“The Assam government has introduced a ground-breaking scheme today to tackle early marriages among girl students and encourage them to pursue education up to the post-graduate level,” stated CM Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Under the Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina (MMNM) scheme, girl students enrolled in higher secondary level in Assam and above will receive a monthly scholarship directly transferred to their bank accounts via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) method.

Explaining the benefits, CM Sarma outlined that the amount would be disbursed on the 11^th of each month, significantly alleviating the financial burden on parents and enabling them to support their daughters' education through college and university.

Eligibility and Stipend Details:

• Girls in classes 11 and 12 will receive Rs 1,000 per month.
• Degree students will be entitled to Rs 1,250 monthly.
• Post-graduation students will receive Rs 2,500 monthly.

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “The scheme aims to deter child marriages in Assam and assume responsibility for girls' education. The stipend, disbursed monthly, will ease financial pressures on parents, facilitating their daughters' pursuit of higher education.”

Exceptions to the Scheme:

• Married girls, except those enrolled in post-graduate courses, will not qualify.
• Daughters of ministers, MLAs, MPs, and students in private colleges will be excluded.

Additionally, CM Sarma clarified that stipends would not be provided during summer vacations in June and July.

The scheme will run for ten months each year, depositing stipends directly into students' bank accounts.

The objective, Sarma affirmed, is to delay marriage, empower girls economically, and bolster the gross enrolment ratio of girls across educational institutions in Assam.