Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a proposal to introduce 100 scholarships for students of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati. The announcement came during IIT Guwahati’s 33rd Foundation Day celebration held on September 1.
Speaking at the programme, Sarma said the importance of IIT Guwahati goes beyond its academic achievements. He described the institute as a reflection of the aspirations of the people of Assam and the wider Northeast.
Sarma said the Assam government would facilitate 100 scholarships for students of IIT Guwahati. He asked the concerned authorities and the institute’s director to prepare the necessary framework for the programme so that the proposal can be implemented effectively.
In a video shared on his official X handle, the chief minister said, “I propose that Assam government wants to institute 100 scholarships for the students of IIT Guwahati.”
The chief minister also spoke about the role he expects IIT Guwahati to play in the development of Assam and the Northeast. He said that whenever the state faces a complex technological or developmental challenge, he hopes the institute will be at the forefront of efforts to find solutions.
Sarma also shared an encouraging message for IIT Guwahati students on X, urging them not to treat life as a race. He wrote, “Life is not a race, even if you don’t run fast, it’s absolutely okay, you won’t be a broken Anda.”
Reflecting on the institute’s history, Sarma recalled that the demand for an IIT in Assam was an important part of the aspirations associated with the Assam Accord. IIT Guwahati was eventually established in 1994, more than four decades after IIT Kharagpur, the country’s first IIT, was established in 1951.
The proposed scholarship initiative is expected to offer financial assistance to 100 IIT Guwahati students and further strengthen the Assam government’s association with the premier technical institution.
