GUWAHATI, AUG 27:

Senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia on Thursday requested Assam Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya to direct the state government to provide free admission and waive semester and other fees for students affected by floods in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts.

In a letter to the governor, Saikia sought his intervention in the interest of students from flood-affected villages in the three districts.

”It is a matter of grave concern that repeated floods have caused severe hardship to families in these districts, disrupting education and placing an unbearable financial burden on students and their parents. In many cases, students have lost books, certificates, study materials and essential household belongings, making it extremely difficult for them to continue their education without immediate relief,” the former leader of the opposition in the state assembly said.

The state government has announced certain relief measures, but flood-hit students continue to face serious financial distress, he said.

”Therefore, I respectfully request that the government of Assam be directed to issue an immediate order to all universities, colleges and schools to grant free admission to all eligible students from the flood-affected villages of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts, and also to waive semester fees and all other educational fees, including admission fees, examination fees, laboratory fees, library fees, and any other compulsory charges for the affected students,” Saikia said.

He further requested that the directive apply uniformly to all heads of universities, colleges and schools in the state, so that the benefit is implemented without delay and without discrimination.

Devastating floods in these Upper Assam districts last month claimed 105 lives so far. (Source: PTI)