If administrative issues are at play, the state must address them urgently
When Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma handed over the first installment of the Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Asoni (MMNM) stipend on October 6, 2024, it was hailed as a historic step towards empowering girl students. However, months later, a large number of students in Guwahati are still waiting for their promised funds. Is the delay a system failure, or are students not following the required procedures?
The MMNM scheme was launched with ambitious goals—to increase female enrollment in higher education, reduce dropout rates, and eliminate child marriage. The scheme assured monthly financial assistance to eligible students: ₹1,000 per month for Class 11 students, ₹1,250 for undergraduate first-year students, and ₹2,500 for postgraduate first-year students. Despite the promise, the execution appears inconsistent.
ALSO READ: Deadline For Assam Brick Kilns To Adopt Safe, Environment-Friendly Technology Pushed To June 2026
Talking to GPlus, a student from Handique Girls’ College said, “Some of my friends have received money, but I haven’t. I followed the entire process, I have a bank account, and yet, no money has been credited. I don’t understand why.”
Similarly, a student from B. Borooah College, stated, “Officials visited our college on February 24 to collect our details again. We submitted our applications properly, yet we are still waiting. Some have received the stipend, but many of us haven’t. It feels unfair.”
Another student from the same college added, “There are at least 30 students in our college who haven’t received the money. Some got it sporadically, while others have been waiting for months. This scheme was supposed to support all of us equally.”
For students like these, the uncertainty surrounding the scheme has led to growing frustration. Many depend on the stipend for daily expenses, travel, and study materials. Without timely disbursement, the very objective of the scheme—to support girl students—stands compromised.
Education Department Responds: ‘There Are Eligibility Criteria’
While students struggle with delays, officials insist that the process is being carried out correctly. A senior official from the Assam Education Department told GPlus, “There are several reasons why some students may not have received the money. Those who have already benefited from the Banikanta Kakati Merit Award are not eligible for MMNM. Principals must fill out an online verification form, which we then process for the finance department. Additionally, married students (except in PG and B.Ed. categories) are not eligible. We are handling taxpayer money, and every application goes through a thorough screening process.”
The official further added, “We have ensured that only eligible candidates receive the benefits. If any eligible student has been left out, we encourage them to approach their institutions for resolution. We will take necessary action.”
However, students argue that they have followed all required steps. “If they say there are eligibility criteria, why were we not informed before? Why did officials collect our details if we were not eligible?” asks a student from a city college.
Beyond eligibility, some believe the issue lies in the execution of the scheme. Reports suggest that incomplete or incorrect data entry, banking errors, and a lack of proper coordination between colleges and the government might have led to discrepancies.
Talking to GPlus, a faculty member from a city college seeking anonymity said, “The verification process has been slow, and sometimes student records have mismatches. Some cases were rejected due to clerical errors."
If administrative issues are at play, the state must address them urgently. A well-intended scheme loses its impact if it fails in execution.
This isn’t the first time Assam’s student welfare schemes have faced distribution challenges. Previously, delays were reported in the Pragyan Bharati Scheme for free textbooks and the Banikanta Kakati Merit Award for scoote₹Some students worry this might become another case of bureaucratic bottlenecks preventing timely benefits.
The question remains: if the state government is investing crores on student welfare, why do these inconsistencies persist? Should there be a more transparent tracking system to monitor disbursements? And most importantly, how will the authorities ensure that no deserving student is left behind?
With many still waiting for their promised support, the success of the Nijut Moina scheme will ultimately depend on whether it delivers on its pledge—to uplift Assam’s girl students without unnecessary hurdles.
