The Mukhyamantri Nijut Moina program, inspired by the principles of the Bhagavad Gita, aims to help one million girls in the state complete their education. With a budget allocation of ₹240 crore, the program seeks to provide substantial educational opportunities and support for girls, complementing existing benefits such as free admission and the provision of Scooty.
Objective of the scheme:
To bolster the Government's Mission to eliminate child marriages.
To promote higher education among girls.
To empower girl child to make informed decisions about their lives like to be able to decide about when to marry.
Features of the scheme:
10 lakh girls (one million- Nijut Moina) will be supported with financial grant as admission incentive to continue their education to higher secondary, graduation and postgraduation studies.
An admission incentive of ₹10,000 will be paid to each of the girl students who joins in Class XI.
₹12,500 will be paid to those girls who take admission in graduation courses.
For a girl student who joins in the first year of postgraduation course, she will be entitled to an admission incentive of ₹15,000”.
Eligibility criteria:
They will be eligible for this benefit only if they study in any government college/education institution.
Secondly, the girls married are not eligible for this benefit.
Significance of this scheme:
Eliminating Child Marriages:
The program supports the Government’s mission to eradicate child marriages by encouraging girls to pursue their education, thus delaying early marriages.
Promoting Higher Education through financial grants:
By offering financial incentives, the scheme promotes higher education among girls, motivating them to complete their secondary, graduation, and post-graduation studies.
Financial Grants for Admission:
Class XI: An admission incentive of ₹10,000 is provided to each girl student joining Class XI.
Graduation Courses: Girls taking admission in graduation courses receive ₹12,500.
Post-Graduation Courses: An incentive of ₹15,000 is given to those enrolling in the first year of post-graduation courses
Increase in the literacy rate:
The scheme targets one million girls (Nijut Moina), aiming to ensure that they continue their education up to higher secondary, graduation, and post-graduation levels.
By focusing on such a large number of girls, the program can create a substantial impact on the overall literacy rate in the state.
Empowering Decision-Making:
Education empowers girls to make informed decisions about their lives, including choices regarding marriage and career paths.
Only girls studying in government colleges or educational institutions are eligible for the benefits.
Girls who are married are not eligible for the scheme, emphasizing the focus on supporting unmarried girls to pursue their education.
Creating a base for equal society:
Changing Societal Norms:
As more girls complete higher education, societal norms and perceptions about gender roles are likely to shift.
Education helps break down stereotypes and promotes the idea that women can contribute equally to society.
Role Models:
Educated women serve as role models for younger girls, inspiring them to pursue their education and careers.
Visible success of educated women in various fields can motivate families to support the education of their daughters.
Empowering girl children is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic investment in the future of Assam, as stated by the Finance Minister. Educated women are more likely to contribute positively to the economy and society.
The MMNM program is a comprehensive initiative aimed at empowering girls through education. The focus on government institutions ensures that the benefits reach those who need them the most, and the exclusion of married girls emphasizes the importance of education before marriage. Overall, the MMNM program is a significant step towards women empowerment and the strategic development of the state.
