CM hands appointment letters to teachers, says Assam has crossed 1.25 lakh job mark
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday handed over appointment letters to 5,550 TET-qualified candidates for the posts of lower primary and upper primary teachers at a function held at the Veterinary College Playground, Khanapara in Guwahati. Of them, 3,800 have been appointed as lower primary teachers and 1,750 as upper primary teachers.
At the same event, CM Sarma distributed 8,799 tablets among teachers under the Shikshak Samal Package and launched the distribution of 4,280 tablets among students under the Aarohan Scheme.
Addressing the gathering, the chief minister recalled his commitment made during the last Assembly election to provide one lakh government jobs. “During the 2021 election campaign, I had promised that if our government returns to power, we would provide one lakh government jobs. Today, I am happy to say that we have not only fulfilled that promise but gone beyond it,” he said.
He said that before him, 14 chief ministers had served Assam, but none of them had provided such a large number of government appointments. “No government in the past could provide more than 20 to 25 thousand appointments. And even after appointments, there used to be allegations of corruption, court cases, and administrative delays. But this time, our recruitment process has been fully transparent, and not a single case has gone to court,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
The chief minister said that since 2021, the government has appointed 1,21,243 candidates across departments, and with the latest 5,550 appointments in the education sector, the total has now risen to 1,26,793. “We have already crossed the one lakh mark and are now heading towards 1.5 lakh jobs,” he said.
He also referred to the corruption and irregularities that had plagued the state’s recruitment process for decades. “Before 2016, getting a government job in Assam was one of the toughest tasks. There was political favouritism, nepotism, and irregularities. Many recruitment drives ended up in court. But those days are gone. Today, every deserving youth knows that government jobs can be earned through merit and hard work,” he said.
Speaking about the broader employment vision of his government, Sarma said, “Even those who are not getting government jobs are being supported through self-employment and skill development schemes. Our goal is to create opportunities for everyone.”
Referring to the state’s industrial progress, he said, “Assam is moving ahead rapidly in industrial development. From Namrup to Chapar, projects like the Namrup Fertilizer Plant, Numaligarh Bio-Refinery, Jagiroad Semiconductor Project, and Chapar Thermal Power Project are transforming our economy. These industries will need skilled manpower, and for that, we are appointing trained and motivated teachers who can prepare our students for the future.”
Highlighting the state’s educational reforms, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “We are building new high schools, setting up schools inside tea gardens, establishing women’s colleges in remote areas, and creating new universities across the state. We have already established 16 new universities, including the Shaheed Kanaklata Barua State University in Gohpur. These initiatives are part of an educational revolution.”
Reflecting on his journey since becoming education minister in 2012, he said, “Since I took charge of the education department, more than 1.5 lakh teachers have been appointed through a fair and transparent process. This has restored people’s trust in government recruitment and motivated a new generation of youth.”
Congratulating the newly appointed teachers, the chief minister urged them to carry out their duties with sincerity and devotion. “Society has high expectations from teachers. You must teach with honesty, integrity, and a sense of responsibility. Be role models for your students,” he said.
In an emotional appeal, he added, “Take care of your parents. And if possible, enrol your own children in the schools where you teach. That will be the truest reflection of your faith in the education system.”
The event was attended by education minister Ranoj Pegu, minister for public health engineering Jayanta Mallabaruah, minister for handloom, textiles and sericulture UG Brahma, chief executive member of the Mising Autonomous Council Parmananda Chayengia, chairperson of the State Council of Educational Research and Training Nirada Devi, and senior government officials.
