Minister Kaushik Rai lays foundation stone of Rs 7.50-crore building for historic Cachar High School

way2barak, January 23: -Reiterating the Assam government’s firm commitment to strengthening the public education system, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Mines & Minerals and Barak Valley Development Department, Shri Kaushik Rai, on Friday laid the foundation stone of a new multi-storeyed academic building of the historic Cachar High School at Malugram.

The project, estimated at Rs 7.50 crore, is being undertaken under the Udharbond Assembly Constituency. The ceremony was attended by Silchar MP (RS) Kanad Purkayastha, Udharbond MLA Shri Mihir Kanti Shom, Silchar MLA Shri Dipayan Chakraborty, Vice-Chancellor of Gurucharan University Prof. Niranjan Roy, and other dignitaries.

Addressing the gathering, Minister Kaushik Rai said that the ongoing transformation of government schools across Assam is a direct outcome of the visionary and decisive leadership of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has consistently placed education at the centre of the state’s development agenda. He said unprecedented investments are being made to modernise school infrastructure, improve learning environments and restore public confidence in government-run institutions.

“The Chief Minister firmly believes that quality education begins with quality infrastructure. From safe and modern classrooms to electricity, drinking water and sanitation facilities, the government is ensuring an environment conducive to holistic learning,” the Minister said. He added that such initiatives have already contributed to a marked decline in dropout rates and a growing preference among parents for government schools.

Recalling the rich academic legacy of Cachar High School, Minister Rai expressed confidence that the new building would help the institution reclaim its past glory while equipping students to meet future challenges.

Speaking on the occasion, Silchar MP,Shri Kanad Purkayastha highlighted the illustrious history of Cachar High School, stating that its students had twice secured the first position in the HSLC examination at the state level and later achieved a seventh rank ,an achievement that brought immense pride to Barak Valley. He stated that despite its reputation, the school’s infrastructure had suffered due to years of neglect.

He said the situation has changed decisively since the present government assumed office. “Under the strong and dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma, development of school and college infrastructure has received unprecedented priority. Allocations of Rs 7 to 8 crore for a single school were once unimaginable, but today they reflect the government’s resolve to bring a transformative change in public education,” the MP said.

Emphasising that the objective of such large-scale investments is to create world-class infrastructure in government schools, MP Purkayastha said improved facilities have played a crucial role in reducing dropout rates. On the occasion, he also requested Minister Kaushik Rai to initiate steps for upgrading Cachar High School to the Higher Secondary level.

Silchar MLA Shri Dipayan Chakraborty, expressing happiness at being present on the auspicious occasion of Saraswati Puja, said he felt proud to witness the commencement of construction of the new school building. He recalled that in 2022 he had submitted a proposal for reconstruction of Cachar High School, following which the Chief Minister sanctioned Rs 7 crore for the project. “Today, under the active leadership of Minister Kaushik Rai, the long-cherished dream of a new building for this historic institution is finally taking shape,” he said, conveying heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister.

Udharbond MLA Shri Mihir Kanti Shom, welcoming the project, said the new infrastructure would significantly enhance the academic environment of the school. He lauded the state government for according due importance to educational institutions in Barak Valley and expressed confidence that the initiative would inspire both students and teachers to strive for excellence.

Earlier, Principal of Cachar High school,Smt Anamika Sengupta delivered the welcome address.

The programme was attended by Mathematics teacher Smt Sharmistha Bhattacharjee, other faculty members, members of the School Management Committee, guardians and a large number of local residents. Several former students, including Shri Amit Sikidar, Shri Tamoijit Bhattacharjee, Shri Partha Seal and Shri Anirban Jyoti Gupta, were also present.

This was stated in a press release issued by the Regional Office of Information & Public Relations, Barak Valley Zone, Silchar, Assam.