January 5, 2021.
TED NewsDesk, Guwahati: State education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday that the government will provide schoolgirls with scooters and financial aid. The government hopes, with such an effort that girls will find it easier to attend school regularly.
Only recently did the government distribute some 22,000 scooters to girls who got 1st division in class 12th under the state board. The distribution of scooters was made under the government-run Pragyan Bharti Scheme, said Sarma on Sunday.
Taking the Scheme further, the government plans to now distribute scooters to all the girls who earn 1st division in state board exams. For this, the government estimates an expense of almost Rs 144.30 crore, but they are willing to take the store even at the cost of the total expenditure running above the estimated limit.
The government, in a rather benevolent move, has also decided to provide scooters to girls who got 1st division even in the 2018 and 2019 12th state board exams.
In addition to this, girls from school level to postgraduation will also be provided with financial support. Schoolgirls will be allotted Rs 100 per day to ensure they attend school without fail. To the undergraduates, an amount of Rs 1,500 while to the postgraduates and amount of Rs2000 will be deposited in their bank accounts by the end of the month. The money is supposed to help them buy books and study material for college.
This scheme would have been well under its way had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown. However, now that the effects of the pandemic are gradually ebbing and schools and colleges are opening, the scheme will be implemented as planned. In fact, the education minister has started distributing scooters in the schools.
To add to the fact, school attendance has increased after the schools opened after the 10 months long lockdown on Monday. Such a step would ensure that girls attend schools and colleges every day and earn a good education.
Source: The Tribune