Political parties in Assam are targeting young voters with promises of fee waivers, stipends and job opportunities ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for April 9, seeking to influence a crucial segment of the electorate.
With over 6 lakh first-time voters aged 18-19 and more than 66 lakh in the 20-29 bracket among the state’s 2.5 crore electorate, youth-centric schemes and employment assurances have emerged as a key campaign plank.
The ruling dispensation is banking on existing welfare initiatives, including financial support schemes aimed at reducing dropouts and encouraging higher education. Assistant professor at Gauhati University, Karavi Barman, said such measures could shape electoral outcomes.
“As Assam heads towards the elections, the inclusive policy approach that the current dispensation has taken towards the state's youth can certainly become a definitive factor in its electoral performance,” she said.
Schemes such as ‘Nijut Moina’, which provides monthly stipends of up to Rs 2,500 to girl students from Class XI to postgraduation, and ‘Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Babu Asoni’ for male students, are being highlighted as major interventions. Other initiatives include ‘Jibon Prerena’ for graduates, ‘Jibon Anuprerna’ for research scholars, and entrepreneurship programmes like the Chief Minister’s Atmanirbhar Asom Abhiyan and SVAYEM.
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Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad state secretary Manash Pratim Kalita said the schemes have eased access to education for economically weaker students.
“The schemes for the students over the last 10 years have been commendable. It has particularly helped students coming from poorer families, as earlier, they could not afford higher education,” he said.
He added, “The scholarship or stipend money provided helps pay for the education, buy essential stuff, and even pay for form fill-up without putting additional burden on our families.”
However, the Students’ Federation of India criticised the initiatives as inadequate. State joint secretary Utpola Das said, “On the ground, the existing schemes are failing to keep students in the system. What the education sector truly needs are durable, structural interventions such as merit-based scholarships rather than schemes that merely create passive 'beneficiaries'.”
SFI state secretary Rajdeep Mahanta raised concerns over limited public institutions and rising costs. “The number of government higher education institutions is not sufficient vis-à-vis our students. Moreover, after the implementation of NEP-2020, we have witnessed an increase in self-financed courses. These are deterrents for students who do not come from affluent families,” he said.
While the BJP has promised to expand welfare schemes, the Congress is focusing on employment generation within the state.
Barman underlined the need for systemic reforms. “Not just traditional colleges and universities, we need public institutions which prepare students for future courses and jobs,” she said, adding that employment opportunities remain critical.
Votes will be counted on May 4.
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