Guwahati, October 27: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday said the Mukhyamantrir Nijut Moina Asoni scheme has emerged as a transformative force in promoting girls’ education and empowerment across the state.
Speaking at the state-level cheque distribution ceremony of Nijut Moina 2.0 at the Arjun Bhogeswar Baruah Sports Complex in Sarusajai, the Chief Minister said the initiative has inspired lakhs of young women to pursue higher education and overcome socio-economic challenges. More than 3.5 lakh girl students will benefit from the scheme in the 2025–26 academic year — more than double last year’s 1.6 lakh beneficiaries.
Under the scheme, girls in Classes XI and XII receive ₹1,000 per month, while undergraduate and teacher training students get ₹1,250. Postgraduate students are provided ₹2,500 per month for up to ten months. Dr Sarma said the programme has not only encouraged education but also helped reduce child marriage, calling it a “turning point” in Assam’s social transformation.
“Only a few years ago, many girls were married at 12 and became mothers by 14. Today, those same girls are college students with ambition and confidence,” Sarma said. He credited government initiatives such as free college admissions, bicycles for Class 9 girls, scooters for meritorious students, and women’s job reservations as part of a broader mission to create an Assam “where poverty no longer dictates a girl’s future.”
The Chief Minister announced that the scheme will now extend to fifth-semester undergraduate students, as well as girls enrolled in polytechnic institutes and ITIs, with an eventual target of reaching 10 lakh beneficiaries. From November 15, students appearing for matric exams will receive ₹300 per month, and Nijut Moina beneficiaries will get a special gift in February.
Encouraging students to be responsible, self-reliant, and optimistic, Sarma advised them to focus on education before marriage. He also highlighted Assam’s expanding education infrastructure — from 3 to 15 medical colleges and 27 universities, along with new engineering, nursing, and polytechnic institutions.
“The goal is simple,” he said, “to build an Assam where every student, especially every girl, has the opportunity to dream and achieve.”
From next month, Nijut Moina funds will be credited directly into students’ bank accounts through DBT on the 10th of every month. A helpline has also been introduced for students facing issues with registration or delayed payments.
Sarma concluded that Nijut Moina symbolises the rise of a new Assam — confident, progressive, and driven by the strength of its young women.
