Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has claimed that distributing scooters to female students who secured first division in HSLC exams has significantly improved their academic performance.
The state government introduced the "Nijut Moina" scheme to encourage women's education, wherein scooters are provided to first-division achievers, Sarma announced during a press conference.
"We've observed a rising trend in girls securing first division since we began providing scooters," Sarma stated confidently, anticipating an increase in the gross enrollment ratio in higher education.
Sarma highlighted that the scheme's annual outflow is expected to be around Rs 300-350 crore initially, which may rise to Rs 1,500 crore as student numbers increase.
While addressing the media, Sarma mentioned that students availing the scooter facility won't receive monetary aid due to the substantial cost of each scooter (approximately Rs 70,000). However, students have the option to decline the scooter and claim monetary aid instead.
The initiative aims to empower girl students and facilitate their access to education, especially in rural areas where transportation infrastructure may be lacking.