Financial aid for students: Assam introduces Babu scheme for male students; Women to receive extra Rs 8,000 during Bihu celebrations

Guwahati: Ahead of crucial assembly polls, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on New Year’s Day, announced the Babu scheme for low-income college and university male students, making them eligible for Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 aid per month from February this year.The BJP-led govt in the state earlier announced Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Asoni, a scheme providing monthly financial aid to girl students in higher education (HS, graduation, PG, B.Ed.) to boost enrollment, reduce dropout rates, and curb child marriage.Announcing the new scheme for boys during his New Year’s Day address, Sarma said, “We already have a scheme called Nijut Moina to encourage girl students to pursue higher education and stop child marriage by keeping them engaged in education. But recently, there was almost a silent movement by our boys that they also need a babu scheme.”He announced that from February 1, boys studying at postgraduate level will be eligible for Rs 2,000 per month, while those pursuing graduation will get Rs 1,000 per month. Starting this year, first-year undergraduate and postgraduate students will be covered under the scheme.“For girls, we brought all under the scheme, but boys with annual income below Rs 4 lakh will be covered. Those who are govt employees will not get the benefits,” he added.Under Nijut Moina, higher secondary students receive Rs 1,000 monthly, whereas undergraduate students are eligible for Rs 1250, BEd students get Rs 2,500 and post graduate students can avail Rs 2500 per month.The CM’s address also brought cheer to women from needy families who are covered under the state govt’s flagship scheme, Orunodoi. Under the scheme, they will get Rs 8,000 in February as a Bihu gift. The women under Orunodoi are currently getting Rs 1,250.Himanta said that he did not want to give the opposition a chance to complain to the ECI after the announcement of the Model Code of Conduct in view of the assembly election. As the state will celebrate Rongali Bihu in April, he said that Rs 8,000 to be given in a single instalment covering the months from January to April. There are about Rs 37 lakh Orunodoi beneficiaries in the state.