Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday distributed appointment letters to 377 TET and TET-cum-Recruitment qualified candidates belonging to the Tea Tribe and Adivasi communities at a ceremony held at Srimanta Sankaradev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
With the latest appointments, the number of individuals recruited into various regular government posts in Assam since 2021 has risen to 1,35,376, achieved through what the government claims to be a fully transparent, merit-oriented selection system.
At the same event, the Chief Minister also released funds to educational institutions to waive admission fees for students from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families enrolled in Higher Secondary First and Second Year and four-year undergraduate courses for the academic session 2025–26.
Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government has surpassed its commitment made during the 2021 Assembly elections.
“We had promised one lakh government jobs. Today, 1,35,376 youth have secured regular government employment through a transparent process,” he said, clarifying that contractual recruitments under schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan and NHM are not part of this tally.
He added that distributing appointment letters publicly serves as an inspiration for young aspirants statewide.
The Chief Minister pointed out that limited educational access in tea garden areas historically limited opportunities for the Tea Tribe community. He highlighted that primary schools were the only institutions available for decades after Independence.
To address the gap, the government has initiated the establishment of Model Higher Secondary Schools across tea garden belts.
- 120 such schools are already operational
- Construction of 100 more will commence in January
- A target of 200 schools has been planned initially, with scope for further expansion across nearly 800 tea gardens in Assam
Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that these schools will enable students to complete education up to Class XII within the tea garden vicinity. Colleges located in the region will reserve seats for Tea Tribe students, and teacher vacancies in Model Schools will be reserved for candidates from the community to ensure familiarity with the local language and culture.
He also highlighted the creation of a 3% reservation for Adivasi and Tea Tribe communities in Grade III and Grade IV posts under OBC, with plans to expand the reservation to Grade I and Grade II positions.
Calling the progress a “silent revolution”, he said this transformation is happening not through protests but through access, dignity and empowerment.
The Chief Minister further stated that:
- Three MBBS seats are now reserved for Tea Tribe students in medical colleges
- The government aims to produce 50 doctors annually and train 250 youth in paramedical courses
- Initiatives under the Shaheed Dayal Das Panika Self-Employment Scheme, wage compensation for pregnant women working in tea gardens, and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have significantly enhanced welfare and healthcare in the past five years
He urged the newly appointed teachers to serve in tea garden schools and support students to explore opportunities beyond traditional plantation work. He warned strict action against fraudulent attempts to misuse benefits intended exclusively for the Tea Tribe community.
Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma also noted major reforms that have strengthened confidence in government schools, including:
- Free bicycles and scooters for students
- Free admissions
- Monthly stipends under Nijut Moina
- Waiver of HSLC and Higher Secondary examination fees
Nearly 1,000 new High Schools and Higher Secondary Schools have been built in the state, each Model Higher Secondary School costing ₹8–10 crore.
He reiterated that no child in Assam should drop out due to financial barriers, adding that Assam today ranks among India’s top states in educational investment.
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The ceremony was attended by Education Minister Dr. Ranoj Pegu, Cooperation Minister Jogen Mohan, Tea Tribe & Adivasi Welfare Minister Rupesh Gowala, MP Kamakhya Prasad Tasa, MLAs Sanjay Kishan, Rupjyoti Kurmi, Terash Gowala, Diganta Ghatowal and senior officials of the Education Department.
