Assam Launches Free Transport For Students In Tea Garden Areas

The Assam government on Wednesday launched a free transport and escort facility for school students living in tea garden areas, aiming to improve attendance and ensure that children from marginalised communities can access education without transportation-related difficulties.

The initiative, introduced under Samagra Shiksha Assam , the state's flagship school education programme, will benefit more than 9,700 students from Classes I to X studying in 198 schools across 11 districts .

Announcing the programme, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described it as a crucial "last-mile effort" to ensure that students in tea garden regions face no obstacles in continuing their education. In a post on X, he said the transport and escort facility would complement other welfare measures already being implemented in the education sector.

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu said the initiative has been launched to address transportation challenges that often affect regular school attendance among children from deprived communities. He noted that the facility would provide safe and free transport or escort services to students residing in tea garden settlements.

Tea garden areas are communities located around Assam's vast tea plantations, where thousands of tea workers and their families live. Many of these settlements are situated in rural and remote locations, making access to schools difficult for children. Limited transport facilities and long travel distances have often contributed to irregular attendance and higher dropout risks.

Under the scheme, the government will provide financial assistance of Rs 5,400 per student per academic year , while local transport arrangements will be managed through School Management Committees (SMCs) to ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level.

The programme will remain in force until March 31, 2027 , except during July when government schools in Assam remain closed for summer vacation.

The initiative forms part of Assam's broader efforts to promote inclusive education , improve school retention rates, and provide equal learning opportunities to children from underserved and economically disadvantaged communities.