The Assam government has introduced a transport and escort facility for students in tea garden areas to ensure uninterrupted access to education and address connectivity challenges faced by children from these communities, officials said on June 10.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the initiative has been undertaken to remove obstacles that often prevent students in tea garden regions from attending school regularly.
“This is a very important initiative we’ve undertaken for our children in tea garden areas. The transport/escort facility for the students will ensure that they have no hindrance in pursuing their studies,” Sarma said in a post on X.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said the programme has been launched under Samagra Shiksha Assam with the objective of ensuring that no child is deprived of education because of transportation difficulties.
According to the minister, the scheme will provide safe and free transport or escort services to students from Classes I to X belonging to deprived and marginalised communities residing in tea garden areas.
Officials said the initiative will benefit 9,714 students studying in 198 schools spread across 11 districts of the state. The scheme will remain in operation from June 10, 2026, to March 31, 2027, excluding July 2026.
Under the programme, each beneficiary student will receive financial assistance of Rs 5,400 for the academic year. Local transport arrangements will be managed through School Management Committees and School Management and Development Committees (SMC/SMDC), Pegu added.
The initiative is aimed at improving school attendance and ensuring that children in tea garden communities have unhindered access to education.
