Union Home Minister Amit Shah has distributed scholarships totaling Rs 116 crore to students from government and government-aided schools in classes 9 to 12. These scholarships fall under the Namo Laxmi and Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana schemes.
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The Namo Laxmi scheme focuses on reducing dropout rates among girls in higher secondary education, benefiting over 1.1 million girls across Gujarat. Under this initiative, girls in classes 9 and 10 receive Rs 500 per month for 10 months, plus Rs 10,000 upon passing their board exams. For those in classes 11 and 12, the stipend increases to Rs 750 per month for 10 months, with an additional Rs 15,000 after passing board exams. Over four years, girls can receive up to Rs 50,000 to support their education from classes 9 to 12. This initiative encourages girls to continue their education, empowering them to become financially independent.
Similarly, the Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana scheme promotes science education by providing Rs 1,000 per month to over 250,000 students in classes 11 and 12. This program aims to boost enrollment in science streams, creating a skilled technical workforce aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision to meet the demands of India’s growing manufacturing sector.
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According to official reports, the Namo Laxmi scheme has led to a 6% increase in school enrollments among girls in classes 9 to 12 from the academic year 2023-2024 to 2024-2025. Meanwhile, the Namo Saraswati scheme has resulted in a 10% rise in students opting for science streams in classes 11 and 12.
Since June 2024, approximately Rs 157 crore has been disbursed under the Namo Laxmi scheme from the Rs 1,250 crore budget, while Rs 46 crore out of the Rs 250 crore budget has been released for the Namo Saraswati scheme. Both programs incentivize students to continue their education, ensure regular attendance, and achieve academic excellence.
To motivate students, only those with over 80% attendance receive their scholarships, which are transferred directly into their or their mothers’ bank accounts via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). The scholarship application and verification process, powered by the SwiftChat App by ConveGenius.AI, allows for real-time tracking of attendance, utilizing data monitoring through Gujarat’s Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK).
The scholarship disbursement event was attended by Gujarat’s Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Education Minister Kuber Dindor, Minister of State for Education Praful Pansheriya, and other prominent officials.
