Assam Rolls Out 'Babu Asoni' Scheme: Monthly Stipends for Male Students to Boost Higher Education

In a bid to curb male student dropouts and promote higher education, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the 'Babu Asoni' scheme on January 1, 2026, offering monthly financial aid exclusively to boys pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Postgraduates will receive Rs 2,000 per month, while graduates get Rs 1,000, credited directly to their bank accounts starting February 1.

The initiative targets families with annual incomes below Rs 4 lakh, excluding children of government employees to prioritize the underprivileged. First-year students in recognized Assam institutions qualify automatically, with applications set to open soon via a dedicated portal. Sarma highlighted the scheme's role in easing financial pressures amid rising education costs, mirroring the success of the 'Nijut Moina' program for girls, which provides similar stipends—Rs 1,000 for higher secondary, Rs 1,250 for UG, and Rs 2,500 for PG or BEd.

This male-focused scheme builds on Assam's aggressive push for gender-balanced education incentives. Since 2024 many thousands of girls have enrolled through "Nijut Moina" and have decreased child marriage rates by 30%. Parallel dropout trends of boys within rural/low-income families will also be addressed by "Babu Asoni". In the first year, officials estimate coverage of over 100,000 beneficiaries using funds from the State's Welfare budget.

Many Educationist agree that this is an excellent opportunity, but they want to ensure that it is monitored to prevent abuse and is integrated with Skill programs (such as Vocational Training). The Dean of a University in Guwahati stated, "This could be a game changer for Equity, but the sustained impact will require that Counseling accompanies Cash." Assam's goal is to have 100% Gross Enrollment by 2030, and this approach could set a National Example for Targeted Aid and Funding. However, critics point out that this is creating a Gender Divide; therefore, they advocate for Unified Support. Implementation challenges like Aadhaar-bank linkages remain, but early registrations are pouring in.