Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday appeared to take a swipe at opposition-linked activists who have been visiting government schools in the state. He said his government's work to improve education in remote tea garden areas would carry on, even as what he called "political tourists" come and go, according to a Telangana Today report from Guwahati.
Key points
- Sarma shared a photo of students at a Tea Garden Model School on X and spoke of "political tourists".
- The Cockroach Janta Party has visited schools in Palasbari and Dispur under its 'School Thik Karo' campaign.
- According to government figures, 218 Tea Garden Model Schools have been established, with 199 functional.
- Free transport and escort facilities were launched in June 2026 for 9,714 students.
What the Chief Minister said
Sarma posted a photograph of students at a Tea Garden Model School on X. He described it as a normal day at a school in one of Assam's remote tea gardens. "Political tourists come and go but our efforts to provide the best educational facilities to our students remains firm," he wrote.
His remarks come during a campaign by the Cockroach Janta Party. Its representatives recently visited government schools in the Palasbari and Dispur constituencies as part of the 'School Thik Karo' initiative, which aims to assess school infrastructure and facilities. The organisation alleged problems at one of the schools it inspected, including damaged roofs, inadequate drinking water facilities and boundary walls.
Government's education push in tea garden areas
The state government has been highlighting its work to widen educational opportunities for children from tea garden communities, which have historically faced difficulties in getting quality education.
The state first announced plans to set up 200 Tea Garden Model Schools across 800 tea estates. According to government figures highlighted in June this year, 218 such schools have been established. Of these, 199 are already functional, and about 40,734 students are enrolled.
Higher secondary education has also been introduced in these areas. In May 2025, 25 model schools were upgraded to offer Classes XI and XII. This reduces the need for students to travel long distances for further studies.
Free transport for students
In June 2026, the state launched free transport and escort facilities for 9,714 students from Classes I to X. The facility covers 198 schools in 11 districts and is meant to address connectivity barriers.
The government says these steps are part of a broader effort to improve school infrastructure, access and educational opportunities for tea garden communities. The source report does not say how the government plans to respond to the specific issues raised by the Cockroach Janta Party at the school it inspected.
