Assam CM Sarma criticises political visitors inspecting state schools
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma defended his government's educational efforts in remote tea garden areas against critics.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday criticised political visitors and Opposition-linked activists who have been inspecting government schools in the state. According to Telangana Today, Sarma referred to these individuals as "political tourists" while asserting that his administration will continue improving educational facilities in remote tea garden regions.
The remarks follow a campaign by the Cockroach Janta Party under its 'School Thik Karo' initiative. Representatives from the organisation recently visited schools in the Dispur and Palasbari constituencies to check infrastructure. The group alleged that some inspected schools had issues such as broken roofs, lack of boundary walls, and insufficient drinking water.
Sarma shared a photo of students at a Tea Garden Model School on X, stating that the government's commitment to providing quality education remains firm despite visitors coming and going.
Government data from June this year shows that 218 Tea Garden Model Schools have been set up across 800 tea estates, with 199 currently operational and 40,734 students enrolled. This follows an initial plan to establish 200 such schools.
The state has also expanded educational access by upgrading 25 model schools to include Classes XI and XII in May 2025. Additionally, the government provided free transport and escort services in June 2026 for 9,714 students in Classes I to X, covering 198 schools across 11 districts.