Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that the state government is undertaking a major healthcare initiative in tea garden areas, with 354 tea garden hospitals being upgraded and 200 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs already made operational to improve access to medical services for tea tribe communities.
In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister said the state government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare facilities for tea garden workers and their families. "Bringing a revolution in healthcare of tea gardens. Ayushman Arogya Mandir. 354 hospitals being upgraded. 200 Arogya Mandirs ready.
Our Double Engine Government is committed to the all-round welfare of the tea garden community and ensuring healthcare is a key priority in this direction," Sarma said. He added that the initiative aims to take healthcare services deeper into tea estates, many of which are located in remote and rural areas where access to medical facilities has traditionally remained limited.
According to the Chief Minister, 200 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs have already been established across tea garden regions, while work is progressing on additional centres. The government is also investing in the modernisation and strengthening of 354 tea garden hospitals to enhance healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
Officials said each hospital is receiving financial support for infrastructure development and improvement of healthcare facilities. The upgraded institutions are expected to provide better primary healthcare services, maternal and child healthcare, disease screening, preventive care and essential medicines to workers and their families.
The tea industry remains one of Assam's largest employers, supporting lakhs of workers across hundreds of tea estates. Healthcare has been identified as a key area requiring intervention to improve the quality of life and social welfare indicators within tea garden communities.
The state government has launched several welfare measures in recent years for tea tribe populations, focusing on health, education, housing and livelihood support. The Ayushman Arogya Mandir initiative forms part of a broader effort to strengthen grassroots healthcare infrastructure and ensure that essential medical services reach underserved populations.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the government remains committed to the holistic development of tea garden workers and their families, with healthcare continuing to be a major priority.