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Flood-affected students in Upper Assam. (Photo: PTI)

Guwahati, July 29: In response to the recent floods, the Assam government has declared that flood-affected students in Upper Assam can now obtain duplicate mark sheets and certificates at no cost. Naranarayan Nath, Secretary of the Assam State School Education Board (ASSEB), announced on Wednesday that students will no longer need to provide a police report to receive these documents.

Nath explained that affected students can simply submit a self-declaration instead of a police report to acquire their duplicate certificates free of charge.

"Students impacted by the floods can access these certificates without any fees. Although the online application system previously required a police report, this is no longer necessary. Students can now upload a self-declaration confirming their flood-affected status," Nath stated.

He added that while the application process remains the same, the significant change is the elimination of fees for duplicate documents.

"For documents related to HSLC, students should apply via sebaonlineservices.in, and for Higher Secondary documents, applications can be submitted through ahsec.gov.in. The procedure is unchanged; the only difference is that duplicate copies will now be issued free of charge," he noted.

Nath also mentioned that this initiative is currently limited to students in four districts of Upper Assam affected by the floods, and there is no set deadline for application submissions.

When asked about the establishment of a toll-free helpline due to potential communication issues in flood-impacted regions, Nath assured that the board maintains regular contact with schools statewide through emails, WhatsApp groups, and phone calls.

"We are in touch with every school across Assam through various communication channels. Contacting the board will not pose any challenges," he assured.

On Tuesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma unveiled a comprehensive educational support initiative for students impacted by the floods.

This package includes additional funding for schools in Sivasagar and Charaideo to provide new uniforms for students from Primary to Class X, along with free replacement textbooks for those damaged in the floods, set to be distributed starting August 1.

To further assist students in continuing their education, the state government will offer financial aid of Rs 1,000 for Higher Secondary students for books and study materials, Rs 3,000 for degree students, and Rs 5,000 for postgraduate and university students in Sivasagar and Charaideo.