Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday announced the launch of a financial assistance scheme for male students and a cash gift programme for women, ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
Under the scheme to be effective from February 1, male students pursuing postgraduate courses will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 2,000, while those enrolled in undergraduate programmes will get Rs 1,000 per month, the chief minister said at an interaction with mediapersons here.
The ‘Babu Achoni’ scheme, however, will not apply to those students whose parents are government employees or have an annual income above Rs 4 lakh, Sarma said.
The chief minister also announced that over 37 lakh women beneficiaries of the ‘Orunodoi’ scheme will receive an advance ‘Bohag Bihu’ gift on February 20. The ‘Bohag Bihu’ is the Assamese New Year, which is celebrated in April.
During the last assembly polls in 2021, the model code of conduct came into force on February 27.
Each beneficiary will receive a total of Rs 8,000, comprising the Orunodoi scheme allowance covering January to April, along with a special Rs 3,000 Bihu gift, Sarma said.
