District-level auditions of Sur Sangam – Tea Garden Student Talent Hunt saw enthusiastic participation from students of 22 tea garden model schools in Assam’s Tinsukia district, officials said.
The auditions were held on January 16 and 17 at Senairam Higher Secondary School as part of a joint initiative of the Department of Education (Secondary), Government of Assam, and The Hans Foundation, North East, aimed at nurturing musical talent among students from tea garden communities.
A total of 63 students took part in the district auditions after being shortlisted through preliminary school-level selections conducted under a structured music education programme implemented across tea garden model schools in the district.
Sur Sangam is part of The Hans Foundation’s Uttam Xikhya programme, implemented in partnership with the state’s Department of Education (Secondary), with a focus on strengthening holistic education in model schools located in tea garden areas.
The initiative integrates formal music education into the school curriculum by engaging dedicated music teachers, enabling students to develop creative skills alongside academics.
District-level auditions are being conducted in Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Dibrugarh districts. From these rounds, 30 candidates will be selected to compete at the pre-state level to be held in Dibrugarh on January 21.
Of these, 15 participants will qualify for the grand finale scheduled in Guwahati on February 10.
Officials said the programme has been designed not merely as a competition but as a sustained talent identification and mentorship platform, aimed at building confidence, discipline and self-expression among students from tea garden communities.
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Reetam Kumar Sarma, senior programme manager at The Hans Foundation, said the performances at the Tinsukia auditions highlighted the positive impact of structured music education and underscored the importance of long-term mentorship and exposure in nurturing young talent from tea garden schools.
Mamata Hojai, Director of the Department of Education (Secondary), Government of Assam, said the state government remains committed to promoting the holistic development of students, particularly those from tea garden areas, and that initiatives such as Sur Sangam help integrate co-curricular education with mainstream academics.
Students shortlisted from the district-level auditions will receive continued mentorship and exposure as they advance through the next stages of the competition, officials added.
