Gujarat: Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel completes 4 years of good governance

Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], September 14 (ANI): Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel completed his four-year tenure of governance in the state on September 13. During this period, he has consistently carried forward Gujarat's development journey initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a CMO release said.
To advance the Prime Minister's vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and ensure that students in Gujarat have access to high-quality, future-ready education in Amrit Kaal, the CM launched two new schemes in March 2024, Namo Lakshmi Yojana and Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana.
Notably, under Namo Lakshmi Yojana, more than 10.49 lakh girl students have received financial assistance of over Rs 1,000 crore, while under Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana, over 1.50 lakh students have been provided assistance amounting to over Rs 161 crore.
Recognising that no girl should have to discontinue her education due to financial hardship, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel introduced Namo Lakshmi Yojana to ensure daughters can complete their secondary and higher secondary studies. The scheme covers girls studying in Classes 9 to 12 in schools recognised by the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Importantly, even those already receiving benefits under other government scholarship schemes remain eligible for this assistance.
Under Namo Lakshmi Yojana, each girl student receives a total financial aid of Rs 50,000 spread across four years. Since its launch, more than 10.49 lakh girls have benefitted, with total disbursements crossing Rs 1,000 crore. To ensure transparent and efficient management, a dedicated Namo Lakshmi Portal has also been introduced for implementation across schools.
To encourage students to take up science in Classes 11 and 12, the Government of Gujarat, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, has implemented Namo Saraswati Vigyan Sadhana Yojana. The scheme is open to students who score 50% or more marks in Class 10 and pursue science in recognised government, grant-in-aid, or self-financed higher secondary schools.
Under this initiative, eligible students in the science stream of Classes 11 and 12 receive a total financial assistance of Rs 25,000 over two years. Since its launch, more than 1.5 lakh students have benefitted, with disbursements crossing Rs 161 crore. For its smooth execution, a dedicated Namo Saraswati Portal has also been launched.
As Gujarat emerges as a hub for sectors such as semiconductors, green energy, and digital sciences, the demand for skilled technical manpower is set to grow. This scheme plays a crucial role in encouraging more students to pursue science, opening pathways to quality education and future opportunities in science and technology. (ANI)