Assam launches Nijut Moina Scheme to end child marriage by 2026, 10 lakh girl to be covered

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 8, 2024

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma Thursday ceremoniously launched the ‘Nijut Moina Scheme’- a monthly financial assistance scheme to increase girls enrolment in higher education and fight against child marriage at a programme held at Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur here.

The scheme aims to put an end to child marriage in the state by 2026.

The scheme has been envisaged to encourage the girl students to pursue their higher studies. The scheme will also complement the already ongoing ‘free admission’ scheme of the government.

As a part of the scheme, monthly financial assistance for girl students from HS to PG level in government and government-aided educational institutions will be given. Financial support to 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 the graduate level will be entitled to Rs 12,500 which is Rs 1250 for every month and PG level student will be entitled to 25,000 that is Rs 2500 for every month for 10 months in a year. Financial assistance to be transferred through DBT from October 10, 2024.

Sarma said that the launching of Nijut Moina Scheme has a core social message which is to end child marriage. The Rs 1500 crore scheme will benefit 10 lakh girls in four years. Referring to National Family Health Survey 2019-21, he said that 31.8 per cent women of 20 to 24 years from Assam have become mothers which means most of them get married before 18 years of age.

As a result, they are deprived of adequate nutrition and education. Different survey suggests that in the districts like Dhubri, South Salmara, more that 50 per cent women marry before they attain the age of 18 years. In fact, some of the surveys even indicate that sometimes some of the girls embrace motherhood even at the age of 12-13 years.

He said that though laws have been passed to end child marriage, education is the only deterrent to discourage child marriage.

The Chief Minister also said that around three lakh girls study up to Class X. However, the enrolment in Higher Secondary reduces drastically. In most of the cases their penury compels them to end their studies mid-way. Therefore, State government has launched free admission scheme in the year 2016.

Sarma also said that to end child marriage, vocational education also plays a great role. Vocational education enables a girl to get employment, which becomes a source of motivation for the parents as well as the girls. Keeping these objective in mind, State government has adopted Nijut Moina, an ambitious scheme.

He said that a girl student will be entitled to the benefits of the scheme in the second year provided she has regular attendance and she does not indulge in ragging. Meanwhile if a girl is married in HS and Degree, she will be barred from the benefits of the scheme. Similarly, the daughters of MLAs, MPs and Ministers will not eligible for the scheme.

The Chief Minister said that in the next 3 to 4 years 10 lakh girls will be brought under the ambit of the scheme.

He also reiterated on the need of updating the KYC of the beneficiary bank accounts to ensure uninterrupted transfer of benefits.

The Chief Minister also said that in the month of November- December there will be another operation against child marriage. He also informed that for Dr Banikanta Kakati Merit Award under Pragyan Bharati scheme, the eligible students will be given scooty in November.

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu, PHE Minister Jayanta Mallbaruah, principal secretary to the CM KK Dwivedi and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion.