1,391 Assam schools lack drinking water, toilets: Minister

1,391 Assam schools lack drinking water, toilets: Minister

GUWAHATI

A total of 1,391 government-run schools on the chars and in rural areas of Assam are without drinking water and toilet facilities for students, the State's Education Minister Ranoj Pegu told the 126-member Assembly on Thursday (November 27, 2025).

Chars are flood-prone riverine islands or sandbars, mostly inhabited by migrant Muslims.

Mr. Pegu also said 27,936 posts of teachers in these and other schools across the State were lying vacant.

Replying to a question from Congress MLA Wajed Ali Choudhury, the Minister said 1,291 primary and middle English (ME) schools have been facing infrastructural issues. “We have reports that 809 schools have no toilets, while 347 schools are without drinking water facilities. Drinking water facilities in 134 schools and toilets in 101 schools are currently not functional,” he said.

Underscoring the shortage of teaching staff, Mr. Pegu said that 12,382 vacancies exist in the ME schools, 8,251 in the lower primary, and 7,303 in the upper primary schools.

“The process of filling up 4,500 posts of teachers in the lower primary schools is ongoing,” he said.

Published - November 27, 2025 07:47 pm IST

Assam / education / islam / water / drinking water / water rights / school

Source: The Hindu
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