On August 8, Thursday, Assam government announced a new scheme for the monthly financial assistance of female students from the higher secondary to the post-graduate levels in government-run and aided institutions with the sole aim of “putting an end to child marriages” in the state.
For the same, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the new scheme which is named 'Nijut Moina' and is a constructive step towards curbing child marriages in India. The launch comes a year after the Assam Police had arrested over 4,000 people under criminalizations that constituted two major crackdowns against child marriage.“The scheme will be universal and those who do not wish to avail of it may voluntarily opt out,” the chief minister said. Child marriage is highest in central and lower Assam, Sarma added.
CM ushers with a huge step against Traditional Wrongs
“We see in the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, one thing said is that in Assam 31.8 percent of girls became mothers between the ages of 20-24. That means their marriage has to have been done before 18 and basically, 30 percent of women get married between 18 to 21. As a result, they become deprived of nutrition and education and become victims of domestic violence,” Assam CM said.
Under this big step, financial support will be given to the female students for about 10 months of their academic year. A student in higher secondary will be entitled to Rs 1,000 every month for 10 months. The monthly amount for a student at the graduate level will be Rs 1,250; for a post-graduate level student, it will be Rs 2,500 every month for 10 months.
The benefits of the scheme will initially be for the student’s first year but can extend beyond this subject based on two conditions, that they maintain stipulated attendance and ‘character’ records.
However, to fix the gulf between the rich and the poor, this scheme shall not apply to girls who are married while in higher secondary school or the undergraduate level, nor to the daughters of ministers, MLAs, and MPs. It will also not apply to those who receive scooters from the state government for securing a first division at the higher secondary level, the chief minister said.
Moreover, in places like South Salmara and Dhubri districts, more than 50 percent of girls get married by 18 and, very often, they become mothers between the age of 12-13. Hence, it is believed that the biggest weapon to halt this stereotypical and unfair system is education. If the procedure can increase even one or two years that a girl remains in the education space, then Assam will be able to end child marriage and teenage pregnancy.
The government also aims for the scheme to reach 10 lakh beneficiaries over the next four years with a proposed outlay of Rs 1,500 crore.
/shethepeople/media/agency_attachments/iUYfaBbcMozaYLoGnoov.png)
/shethepeople/media/member_avatars/2024-07-27t111800973z-1000154420.jpg )
Follow Us/shethepeople/media/media_files/FF8F0aAsyKtApgPAE36W.png)