The Assam government has launched a special transport and escort facility for students residing in tea garden areas to ensure uninterrupted access to education and address last-mile connectivity challenges faced by children in these communities.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the initiative on Wednesday, describing it as a significant step towards improving educational access for students from tea garden families.
“This is a very important initiative we’ve undertaken for our children in tea garden areas. The transport and escort facility will ensure that students face no obstacles in continuing their education,” Sarma said in a post on social media platform X.
Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said the scheme has been introduced under Samagra Shiksha Assam with the objective of ensuring that no child is forced to miss school due to transportation-related difficulties.
Under the programme, safe and free transport or escort services will be provided to students from Classes I to X belonging to deprived and marginalised communities living in tea garden areas.
According to official estimates, the initiative will benefit 9,714 students studying in 198 schools across 11 districts of the state. The scheme will remain in operation from June 10, 2026, to March 31, 2027, excluding July 2026.
Each beneficiary student will receive support worth ₹5,400 for the academic year. Local transportation arrangements will be managed through School Management Committees (SMCs) and School Management and Development Committees (SMDCs), ensuring smooth implementation at the grassroots level.
Officials said the initiative is expected to significantly improve school attendance and reduce dropout rates among children from tea garden communities, which have historically faced socio-economic and infrastructural challenges.
