Guwahati, June 8 (IANS). Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has taken a major step towards health services in the tea garden areas of the state government. In this sequence, 354 tea garden hospitals are being developed and 200 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have already become operational, to improve access to medical services for the tribes working in tea gardens.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the state government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare facilities to the tea garden workers and their families.
Sarma said that he is bringing a revolution in health services in tea gardens. Ayushman Arogya Mandir. 354 hospitals are being upgraded. 200 health temples are ready. Our double engine government is committed to the all-round welfare of the tea garden community and ensuring health services is our prime priority in this direction.
He further said that the initiative aims to make health services more comprehensive in tea gardens, many of which are located in remote and rural areas, where access to medical facilities has traditionally been limited.
According to the Chief Minister, 200 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have already been established in the tea garden areas, while work on additional centers is underway. The government is also investing in the modernization and strengthening of 354 tea garden hospitals to improve healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
Officials said each hospital is receiving financial assistance for basic development and improvement of health facilities. The upgraded institutions are expected to provide better primary health services, maternal and child health care, disease screening, preventive care and essential medicines to the workers and their families.
The tea industry in Assam is one of the largest employment sectors, providing employment to millions of workers in hundreds of tea gardens. Healthcare has been identified as a critical area requiring intervention to improve quality of life and social welfare indicators in tea garden communities.
The state government has initiated several welfare measures for the tea garden tribes in recent years, focusing on health, education, housing and livelihood support. The Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen healthcare infrastructure at the grassroots level and ensure that essential medical services reach the underserved population.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the Government is committed to the holistic development of tea garden workers and their families, with healthcare remaining a key priority.
–IANS
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