Guwahati, June 10: The Assam government has launched a free transportation scheme to support students from tea garden communities, aiming to remove barriers that often prevent children from attending school regularly. Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced that the initiative, implemented under Samagra Shiksha Assam, will benefit more than 9,700 students enrolled in Classes I to X across 198 schools in 11 districts.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the programme as a vital step to ensure that no child is denied education because of difficulties in reaching school. Under the scheme, each eligible student will receive transport assistance worth Rs. 5,400 for the academic year. The programme will run from June 10, 2026, to March 31, 2027, excluding July 2026.

Local School Management Committees and School Management and Development Committees (SMCs/SMDCs) will be responsible for organising transport services, ensuring grassroots-level implementation. Officials noted that the initiative is expected to make daily travel safer and more convenient, while encouraging consistent attendance and improving access to education for children in tea-growing regions.