New Schemes have been proposed by the Assam Budget for 2018-2019. The new schemes would also incorporate schemes for women, including scholarships for girl children belonging to minority communities.
Presenting first e-Budget in the Assembly, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, said, “I would like to announce a scheme that proposes to support all girls belonging to minority community, to further aid and incentivize them to keep pursuing higher education.” In the end, he said that an annual scholarship of Rs 2,000, Rs 4,000, Rs 6,000 and Rs 10,000 would be given to girl students from minority groups in class 10, 11, 12, graduation and post-graduation, respectively once the bill is passed.
Nine women colleges will be constructed in areas such as Sonai, Chenga, Batadraba, Jaleswar, Golakganj, Bilasipara, Mangaldai, Hailakandi and Karimganj. He said that initiatives would be taken to establish new institutes. New medical college would be established in Karimganj district and construction of Kokrajhar, Tinsukia.
He said,”To promote skill development in the state, we are setting up a Mega Skill City in partnership with ITEES Singapore to provide globally relevant employment skills to the youths of Assam. I have earmarked Rs 18 crore separately for the setting up of the Mega Skill City. We have also envisaged the setting up of a state Institute of Public Finance to provide a top class capacity building of the officials and all stakeholders. Further, we will also set up a State Labour Training and Research Institute.”
The minister had also stated that UGC pays scale would be provided to teachers across degree colleges, universities and technical and medical institutions.
Sharma further said that the government would be introducing legislation for managing ‘malpractices’ in educational institutions. The legislation would be focusing on ‘curbing the increase in the practice of charging exorbitant fees by private schools and undue profiteering by some educational institutions.’