Guwahati: Assam chief minister Sarbananada Sonowal launched the distribution of 1,000 Scootys at a function at the GMCH auditorium here on Friday in a bid to accelerate women empowerment and acknowledge the good performance of the top 1,000 girls who excelled in the Higher Secondary School Leaving Certification Examinations, 2017.

Fulfilling what he said was a promise made in the 2017-18 budget, Sonowal handed over allotment certificates along with keys to the students in the presence of education minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who said the number of beneficiaries will rise to 5,000 next year.

Students who opted for cash instead of Scootys were given Rs 35,000 each.

Sonowal said ever since the new dispensation has been in power, quality has become the only criterion for getting government jobs and other incentives. He also said the state government was committed to quality higher education and through education the much deserved qualitative changes will be brought about in society. Sonowal also said he felt happy to have launched the scheme on National Youth Day, the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.

Sarma said the idea of giving free Scootys was a small gesture of the state government's towards women empowerment.

He said considering the problem of many students belonging to the BPL category in getting admission to the higher secondary and degree levels, Dispur has decided to give free textbooks and waive admission fees.