State Finance Minister Ajanta Neog during her Budget Speech announced a scheme – Mukhya Mantri Nijut Moina ( MMNM) – under which 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.
“ This is to bolster the Government’s Mission to eliminate child marriages. Apart from punitive and regulatory measures, we need to empower girl child to decide about when to marry, said Neog while adding, “An admission incentive of ₹10,000 will be paid to each of the girl students who joins in Class XI. Similarly, ₹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”.
The Finance Minister said that ₹240 cr has been earmarked for MMNM scheme is in addition to the existing benefits like free admission, provision of Scooty, etc.
Neog said that if 10 lakh girl children are encouraged to study till graduation and postgraduation, this would also increase the percentage of girls educated beyond Matriculation. “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,” said Neog.
In a bid to promote entrepreneurial spirit among State’s women State Government will provide an entrepreneurship fund of ₹10,000 to 39,67,743 women members of Self-Help Groups in the rural areas, subject to certain conditions, throughout the State under Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMMUY).
“ Once they avail this benefit, we commit to facilitate a bank loan of minimum of ₹25,000 to each beneficiary. Furthermore, upon the prudent utilization and timely repayment of the loan amount, a capital subsidy of ₹12,500 will be provided to the beneficiary. Thus, each beneficiary would get a minimum of ₹47,500 as grant, subsidy and loan together,” said Neog
