Nijut Moina, Nijut Babu Schemes Benefit 5.42 Lakh Students.CM Announces Inclusion of ANM, GNM and BSc Nursing Students Under Nijut Moina.

Dalim Phukan.
Hills live News, Guwahati, October 15: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday launched the distribution of cheques for the first instalment for October under the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina and Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu schemes, benefiting 5.42 lakh students across Assam.
The programme was held at Jyoti-Bishnu International Kala Mandir in Guwahati with the objective of providing financial assistance to students and enabling them to pursue higher education without financial constraints.
Under the Nijut Moina Scheme, 4,39,598 girl students will benefit this year, with Rs. 48.22 crore earmarked for the first instalment. The Nijut Babu Scheme, introduced to encourage boys to pursue higher education, will benefit 1,02,501 students, with Rs. 10.37 crore being disbursed as the first instalment. fileciteturn0file0L16-L24
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister highlighted the importance of the Nijut Moina Scheme in combating child marriage and early motherhood in Assam. Referring to the 2023 National Family Health Survey, he pointed out that child marriage and early motherhood remained serious concerns in several districts of the state.
Dr. Sarma said the state government had launched a statewide campaign against child marriage, resulting in the arrest of more than 10,000 people. Alongside enforcement measures, the government introduced the Nijut Moina Scheme in 2024 to encourage girls to continue their education and prevent early marriage.
He said the scheme had contributed to a significant increase in girls’ enrolment in colleges and a decline in educational dropouts. He also referred to a reduction in child marriage in Assam, as reflected in the sixth round of the National Family Health Survey.
Explaining the rationale behind the Nijut Babu Scheme, the Chief Minister said it was designed to encourage boys from economically weaker families to pursue higher education while reducing the financial burden on their parents. He noted that college enrolment among boys from families with an annual income of less than Rs. 4 lakh had nearly doubled within a year.
Urging students to attend classes regularly and make the best use of the opportunities available to them, Dr. Sarma stressed the need for practical and skill-oriented education. He said the government aimed to establish incubation centres and develop startup ecosystems in colleges to help students prepare for a changing world.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the government’s employment initiatives, stating that around 1.60 lakh government jobs had been provided over the past five years. In addition, two lakh young people had been covered under the Mukhya Mantrir Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan to promote self-employment.
He encouraged students to prepare for Union Public Service Commission and other all-India competitive examinations. He also emphasised the need to establish career counselling cells in colleges to guide students in achieving their goals.
In a significant announcement, Dr. Sarma said that both schemes would be expanded next year to cover students of Srimanta Sankardeva University, Auniati University, Krishnaguru Adhyatmik University and Pragjyotishpur University.
He further announced that female students pursuing Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM), General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM), and BSc Nursing courses would also be brought under the Nijut Moina Scheme.
The Chief Minister added that financial assistance for September could be received through Direct Benefit Transfer after the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations. He also said the government would consider increasing the financial assistance provided under both schemes in the future.
Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, MPs Dilip Saikia and Bijuli Kalita Medhi, MLAs Pradyut Bordoloi, Diplu Ranjan Sarma, Bijoy Kumar Gupta, Dr. Tapan Das, Himanshu Sekhar Baishya and Prakash Chandra Das, Guwahati Municipal Corporation Mayor Mrigen Sarania, and Education Department Commissioner and Secretary Narayan Konwar were among those present at the programme.