GUWAHATI, Aug 6: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said the state government has renewed its tirade against child marriage with the launch of Nijut Moina 2.0, a scheme for empowering girl students.
“With the launch of Nijut Moina 2.0, four lakh girl students will be saved from the scourge of child marriage while fulfilling their dreams of being academically empowered. We are committed to bring down child marriage to zero by 2026,” the chief minister said during the state-wide distribution of forms for the scheme at a central function in Gauhati University.
The scheme also aims to reduce school dropout rates and promote higher education among young girls, especially from underprivileged backgrounds.
It may be noted that under the scheme, in the year 2025-26, four lakh students covering Higher Secondary, Under Graduate, Post Graduate, and B. Ed will be given monthly financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1,000 (Higher Secondary students), Rs 1250 (Under Graduate students) and Rs 2500 (Post Graduate students).
“Considering the potential of the scheme towards bringing about large-scale social changes, the parameter of Nijut Moina 2.0 has been expanded to bring more beneficiaries under it,” Sarma said.
“Though Nijut Moina 1.0 covered state universities and provincial colleges, steps have been made to bring central universities in the state, such as Tezpur University and Assam University, in its ambit. Last year, 1.60 lakh girl students were benefitted by the scheme. However, this year, four lakh girls will be given financial assistance under the scheme,” he said.