Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal along with Assam Education Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremonially distributed the Anundoram Borooah Award 2020 at Srimanta Sankardeva Auditorium in Guwahati.
The award was given to the students who passed the High School Leaving Examination (HSLC) with distinction marks. Aimed to encourage the meritorious students, the award honours the first Assamese & fifth Indian ICS, Anundoram Borooah.
The award was given to a total of 16,944 students from Assam. This year, the State Government has not given the students the option of availing laptops instead of cash due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. A sum of Rs. 34 crore has been released for this.
Speaking on the occasion CM Sarbananda Sonowal said, “I request all the students to follow their dreams and understand their capabilities and potential within themselves and make Assam proud”.
Assam Education Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Usually, we try to hand over laptops, which costs us around Rs. 20,000 per device. This year, however, the Government has decided to give the equal amount as procuring laptops would be more time-consuming owing to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.”
Himanta Biswa further stated that in the future, feedback would be sought from the students as to whether laptops should be handed out by the government or money should be given instead.
