Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched the distribution of scooters to meritorious students who passed the previous higher secondary examination.
The scheme was implemented through Dr. Banikant Kakati Merit Award under Pragya Bharti Yojana to a total of 35,800 beneficiaries out of which 6,052 are boys and 29,748 are girls.
To be eligible for the award, boys had to score a minimum of 75 per cent in the higher secondary examinations conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary education council, while it was 60 per cent for girls.
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The central event in the state capital saw the distribution of scooters to students of Kamrup Metropolitan and Kamrup districts. An official said that the rest of the districts would be distributed within December.
Speaking at the event, Sarma said, “It is a historic milestone in the lives of those who made it to the eligible list for the Dr. Banikant Kakati Merit Award. It is a gift and blessing from the society for their hard work and dedication towards studies.” Stating that digitization would be the mantra of development in the next few decades, he asked the students to focus on innovation, which would ensure Will be an employment provider instead of being an employment seeker.
“The meritorious students should always aim to touch the sky. It will be a waste of talent if you limit your aspirations to Grade-3 and Grade-4 jobs in the days to come.”
He said that the government would explore the possibility of distributing electric scooters to the award winners from next year and this would save the students from spending money on fuel.
The Chief Minister also informed about an upcoming scheme through which a stipend of Rs 10,000 per year would be provided to girl students pursuing post graduate programs in educational institutions of the state.
“This will be helpful in covering their commutation and other related expenses,” she said, appealing to women pursuing post-graduate programs to apply for it in a portal to be launched by the education department in a few weeks.
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