Amit Shah's Scholarship Initiative Aims to Empower 1.1 Million Girls in Gujarat
Over 1.1 million girls in Gujarat benefit from the Namo Laxmi scholarship program, which aims to lower the dropout rates among girls in higher secondary school.
Students from government and government-aided schools in grades 9 through 12 have received scholarships totaling Rs 116 crore from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The Namo Laxmi and Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana programs have been used to award these scholarships.
Over 1.1 million girls in Gujarat benefit from the Namo Laxmi scholarship program, which aims to lower the dropout rates among girls in higher secondary school. As a result of this effort, girls in classes 9 and 10 earn Rs 500 per month for ten months, along with an additional Rs 10,000 for clearing board exams. Girls in classes 11 and 12 receive Rs 750 per month for ten months, along with an additional Rs 15,000 for completing board exams. Over the course of four years, girls students can receive up to Rs 50,000 to assist their studies in classes nine through twelve.
By encouraging girls to seek higher education, this program equips them with the skills necessary to become self-sufficient and financially independent in the future.
Likewise, more than 250,000 children in classes 11 and 12 receive Rs 1,000 a month under the Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana project, which supports science education. To address the demands of India's expanding industrial sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Viksit Bharat goal is supported by this project, which promotes enrollment in science courses to create a competent technical workforce.
From the academic year 2023–2024 to 2024–2025, there has been a roughly 6% increase in the number of girls enrolled in grades 9–12 since the Namo Laxmi initiative was introduced. Similarly, according to an official announcement, the Namo Saraswati scholarship program has increased the proportion of pupils choosing science courses in classes 11 and 12 by about 10%.
The event was attended by Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Education Minister Kuber Dindor, Minister of State for Education Praful Pansheriya, and other prominent ministers and officials.
These scholarship programs provide financial aid to students, especially girls and science students, in Gujarat's government and government-aided schools.
Girls in classes 9-12 can receive up to Rs 50,000 over four years to support their studies and reduce dropout rates.
This scholarship offers Rs 1,000 per month to encourage students in classes 11 and 12 to pursue science, helping meet the skilled workforce needs of India's industrial sector.
Since its launch, the program has led to a 6% increase in girls' enrollment in grades 9-12.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and other prominent ministers and officials attended the event.
