Remain focused on goals, bring laurels to state: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma to students

Pragyan Bharati Scheme

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday ceremonially handed over scooters to the girls and boys, scoring 60 percent and 75 percent respectively in Higher Secondary Examinations at a programme in the Veterinary College Field at Khanapara here.

The scooters to the girls and boys were presented by the CM under the Pragyan Bharati scheme, with 35,770 students having been given scooters under the scheme in the year 2023.

It may be noted that the award, instituted in the memory of great litterateur and linguist Dr. Banikanta Kakati, entered its sixth year in 2023.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sarma said that empowering the youth through education has been one of the commitments of the state government. Therefore, the government, fulfilling its commitment to providing seamless facilities to the students to pursue their studies, started the process of handing over 'scooty' to meritorious girl and boy students, who secured 60 percent and 75 percent in Higher Secondary examinations in 2023 respectively. He said, "I sincerely hope the scootys presented in recognition of the good academic performance of the students will motivate them to do better in the future as well".

He also asked the students, who received Dr. Banikanta Kakati Talent Awards, to concentrate on their works and strive to reach their targets, irrespective of any obstacle, to bring laurels to the state as well as the nation.

Reiterating his government's commitment to provide more helping hands to the student community, the Chief Minister said that his government would take up many more student friendly steps to help students to pursue their studies without deprivation.

He also said that his government has accorded the highest priority to human resource development. The scheme was launched in the year 2017 in keeping with this objective and encouraging the students, both boys and girls, for better performance in higher education. However, the scheme has been extended to boy students also securing 75 percent marks and above from the year 2022-2023, the Chief Minister added.

The CM also said that Assam's Pragyan Bharati scheme has also been intended to subsidize household expenditure on higher education. Therefore, the ambit of this scheme in the coming days will be expanded to bring free scootys, free textbooks and subsidized hostel fees.

It may be noted that for the current financial year 2023-24, the Government of Assam has taken decision to provide scooters to 35770 eligible students, of which 30203 are girl students who secured first division and 5567 are boy students who secured 75 percent and above in the Higher Secondary Examination conducted by the AHSEC during the year 2023. The estimated financial outlay earmarked for the scheme is Rs. 25954.29 lakh.

Additional Chief Secretary Higher Education Biswaranjan Samal gave the welcome address in the programme, which was also addressed by Education Minister Dr Ranoj Pegu, MLA Paramananda Rajbongshi and a host of other dignitaries.

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