Sadiya College Commerce Students Demand Immediate Provincialisation

Students from the Commerce Department at Sadiya College staged a protest demanding immediate provincialisation, citing years of neglect and rising fees. They expressed concerns over inadequate infrastructure and teacher salaries, warning that continued neglect could jeopardize their academic futures. The protest highlights the disparities between the Commerce stream and other departments, urging government intervention to address these pressing issues.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 19, 2025, 20:49 IST

Protest for Provincialisation at Sadiya College

Sadiya, Dec 19: On Friday, students from the Commerce Department of Sadiya College organized a protest on the main road, calling for the immediate provincialisation of their department. They expressed concerns over years of neglect by the authorities, which they claim has adversely affected both educators and students.

The protesting students highlighted that although the Commerce stream was established in 2007, it has yet to receive provincial status, unlike the Arts and Science streams, which are already undergoing the process.

They argued that this prolonged delay has negatively impacted the academic environment and jeopardized the futures of numerous students pursuing commerce education in the area.

As the sole institution for higher education in the region, Sadiya College has reportedly been charging increasing annual fees for Commerce students, ranging from Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000, creating a significant financial strain.

Many students have had to halt their studies midway due to their inability to afford the rising fees, according to the protesters.

Despite generating considerable revenue from nearly 300 Commerce students annually, the department allegedly lacks even basic academic infrastructure.

The students claimed that educators are not compensated fairly, classrooms are inadequate, and classes often overlap, forcing students to attend lectures in corridors and on verandahs.

During the demonstration, students raised serious concerns regarding fund management, noting that the department operates with only a few teachers and without ensuring proper salaries.

They cautioned that ongoing neglect and financial instability for teachers could ultimately lead to the closure of the Commerce Department, threatening the academic futures of many students in the border region.

One student protester stated, “We have united because the Commerce stream began in 2007, yet it remains unprovincialised. Consequently, Commerce students face high fees, while their peers in Arts and Science study without such financial burdens.”

Another student added, “Around Rs 15 lakh is collected from Commerce students each year, yet we lack proper classrooms, facilities, and enough teachers. When we approached the principal, we were informed that the college is following directives from higher authorities. We urge the Chief Minister to extend the same support to Commerce students as has been provided to others across Assam.”

The protesters are demanding the immediate provincialisation of the Commerce Department, timely and adequate payment of teachers’ salaries, and the establishment of essential infrastructure, including classrooms and teaching staff.

They called on the government and college administration to take prompt action to safeguard the interests of both educators and students.