In a significant boost to education in Gujarat, Union Home Minister Amit Shah disbursed scholarships worth Rs.116 crore to students from government and government-aided schools in classes 9 to 12. The scholarships, under the Namo Laxmi and Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana schemes, aim to reduce dropout rates and encourage science education among students.
The Namo Laxmi scheme, specifically designed to support girls in higher secondary education, benefits over 1.1 million students. Girls in classes 9 and 10 receive Rs.500 per month for 10 months, plus Rs.10,000 upon clearing board exams. For classes 11 and 12, they receive Rs.750 per month, with an additional Rs.15,000 after board exams, making them eligible for up to Rs.50,000 over four years. This initiative aims to help empower girls to pursue education and achieve financial independence.
Similarly, the Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana scheme promotes science education, offering Rs.1,000 per month to over 250,000 students in classes 11 and 12, aiming to develop a skilled technical workforce aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision.
Since the launch, the schemes have increased girl enrollment by 6% and science stream enrollment by 10%. The scholarships are disbursed via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), to ensure transparency through real-time monitoring. The event was attended by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Education Minister Kuber Dindor, and other prominent officials.
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