Key Highlights
- Big number: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Nijut Babu Moina initiative is supporting 5.42 lakh students.
- Girls first: Nijut Moina gives monthly stipends to girl students from Class 11 to postgraduation.
- Boys added: Nijut Babu extends monthly aid to male UG and PG students from economically weaker families.
- Social goal: The schemes aim to cut dropouts and discourage early marriage of girls.
- Navratri message: The CM linked the scheme to “honouring the Shakti in every girl”.
On Monday, October 19, as Navratri celebrations peaked across the country, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared an update on one of his government’s biggest education schemes. In a post on X, he said the Nijut Babu Moina initiative is now supporting 5.42 lakh students.
“Honouring the Shakti in every girl, we are empowering Assam’s daughters to shape their own futures. Through #NijutBabuMoina, we are supporting 5.42 lakh students as they move towards independence and bigger dreams,” the Chief Minister wrote.
What Is Nijut Moina?
Nijut Moina is Assam’s flagship scheme for girls’ education. Eligible girl students receive monthly financial help at different levels of study, from higher secondary to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Since 2024, the government has been giving monthly stipends of up to Rs 2,500 to girl students from Class 11 to postgraduation.
The money helps students pay for education-related costs and reduces the burden on families. The larger aim is to encourage parents to keep daughters in school and college longer.
Nijut Babu: Support Extends to Boys
The newer Nijut Babu component brings male students into the fold, while Nijut Moina remains focused on girls. Under it, eligible male students from economically weaker families get financial assistance for undergraduate and postgraduate studies. The boys’ scheme came after growing demands from male students for similar support once Nijut Moina was rolled out.
Why It Matters: Fighting Dropouts and Child Marriage
Assam has long struggled with girls leaving education early, often because of financial pressure or early marriage. The government has positioned Nijut Moina as a key tool to tackle both. When the scheme was launched, the Chief Minister linked it directly to the state’s goal of ending child marriage by 2026.
The logic is simple: a girl who gets a monthly stipend to study is more likely to stay in college, and families have one less reason to marry her off early. Adding boys through Nijut Babu also addresses concerns that young men from poorer homes were dropping out of higher education too.
The Bigger Picture
With 5.42 lakh students now covered, the programme is among the larger direct-benefit education schemes run by any Indian state. Its success will finally be judged by numbers beyond enrolment: how many students complete their degrees, how female enrolment in higher education changes, and whether child marriage cases continue to fall.
What Comes Next
The government says its wider aim is to improve access to education and help young people pursue their aspirations. Students and families can check eligibility and application details through Assam’s Higher Education Department and their institutions.