Assam has achieved a zero dropout rate among girls across higher secondary, undergraduate, and postgraduate levels — a milestone the state government attributes to its flagship ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme.

Announcing the achievement at the Bhogeshwar Baruah Sports Complex on Monday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that 3,50,256 girl students have benefitted from the initiative this year — more than double the number recorded in 2023. The surge, he said, signals not just academic inclusion but a social transformation in motion.

Turning the tide on early marriage

Sarma highlighted that the Nijut Moina scheme, launched to promote girls’ education, has also emerged as a potent tool in the fight against child marriage. He cited 2021 data showing alarming rates in districts such as Dhubri, Mankachar, and Barpeta, where the practice was once rampant.

“Child marriage had deeply scarred our society,” Sarma said, noting that nearly 7,000 arrests were made in 2023 as part of the state’s crackdown. The initiative, he added, has offered girls not just classrooms, but choices and dignity.

Expanding support, deepening impact

To sustain the momentum, the Chief Minister announced new financial aid under the scheme. From November 15, all students appearing for matriculation exams will receive ₹300 per month to purchase books and study materials. The scheme will also extend to Degree 3rd-year, 5th-semester, and polytechnic and ITI students, broadening the net of educational support.

He further outlined the government’s commitment to creating one lakh new jobs, with a special emphasis on women’s employment — part of a broader push toward economic empowerment and gender parity.

‘A new Assam’ on the horizon

Concluding his address, Sarma envisioned “a new Assam” — one where women are “respected, cherished, and empowered.” He reiterated a zero-tolerance policy toward crimes against women, including polygamy, underscoring that gender justice will remain central to the state’s governance vision.

“This is not just an educational success,” Sarma said. “It’s the foundation of a new social order — one where every girl can dream, learn, and lead.”