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Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Assam makes strides in reducing Maternal Mortality, Infant Mortality and Under 5 Mortality ratios
Assam shows great improvement in reducing Maternal Mortality Ratio, Infant Mortality Rate and Under 5 Mortality Rate. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shares the state's progress since 2001. Assam's MMR is now better than several other states. The state government will provide jobs and is working to boost the animal husbandry sector. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Guwahati: Assam has made promising strides towards reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and the Under 5 Mortality Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said this on Thursday while adding that while the recent reports of Sample Registration System (SRS) published by the Office of the Registrar General of India the MMR of Assam has come down to said that historically, Assam recorded the highest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country till the last SRS report of 2018-20. In 2001-03, the MMR in Assam was 490 per 1 lakh live births. At that time, the national MMR was 301.'The maternal health conditions were poor and the health infrastructure in the state was unable to provide necessary support to our mothers. In the last two decades, tremendous efforts have been undertaken, especially in the last 10 years, for which, significant improvement has been observed in reduction of maternal mortality,' the Chief Minister said adding that with the wholehearted efforts of Government of Assam in the last 20 years, the MMR has improved to 125 in 2020-22 from 490 in said that the Special Bulletin on Maternal Mortality in India 2020-22 was released in the month of June 2025. 'As per SRS 2020-22, MMR of Assam has come down to 125 with a further 42 points (25.1%) drop in MMR compared to 2019-21. This shows 70 points (36%) drop in MMR in just 2 years. No other States in the Country have shown such decline,' he said, adding that Assam's MMR is now better than Madhya Pradesh (159), Chhattisgarh (141), Uttar Pradesh (141) and Odisha (136) as per SRS 2020-22.'It is a great achievement for the State of Assam to bring such a great reduction of MMR even during the period of COVID pandemic,' he Chief Minister further added that it is not just MMR, but Infant Mortality rate also has improved tremendously. 'The IMR in 2005 in Assam was 68, way above the national IMR of 58, being one of the last states in the country. The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) of Assam improved to 36 as per SRS (2020). It has come down to 34 as per SRS (2021) and further down to 32 as per SRS (2022),' he said adding that in terms of IMR, Assam's performance is at par with Orissa (32) and better than Uttar Pradesh (38), Chattisgarh (38) and Madhya Pradesh (40).'From 68 in 2005, we have improved to 32 by 2020-22, almost reducing IMR to 1/3rd,'he said, adding that the Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) was as high as 88 per 1000 live births in 2008. This has also come down from 40 (SRS 2020) to 37 (SRS 2021) and further down to 35 (SRS 2022), almost reducing to 1/3rd,' Sarma said.'Similarly, our neonatal mortality rate also has improved from 33 per 1000 live births in 2005 to 22 in 2020-22,' he said adding that improvement in health infrastructure, improvement in health Human Resources (HR), Motivated and incentivised ASHA(s) and grassroots workers, improved health service delivery and the social support programmes contributed towards this stated that nearly 40,000 youths would be provided government jobs in a single recruitment drive scheduled for 10 appointment letters were distributed to 443 Veterinary Field Assistants in the Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Department, 12 Tourism Development Officers in the Tourism Department, and 23 DIET Lecturers and 3 SCERT Assistant Directors in the rank of Assistant Professors under the Education Department. With the inclusion of these 481 appointments, the total number of government jobs secured under the present administration now stands at 1,20, expressed confidence that the State Government is well on course to reach a total of 1.60 lakh appointments by 10 October. He emphasised that the transparent nature of this recruitment process has not only upheld merit, but also played a vital role in fostering a more robust educational ecosystem across the his attention to the animal husbandry sector, the Chief Minister underscored its growing importance in the vision of a self-reliant Assam. He noted that, while this sector has increasingly become a pillar of the rural economy, Assam still lags behind other states in fully realising its potential. To address this, he stated that the government has partnered with the National Dairy Development Board to establish the North East Dairy and Foods Limited – an initiative aimed at producing, processing, and distributing 10 lakh litres of milk daily. He highlighted a series of infrastructural developments already underway to support this goal, including the setup of milk processing centres with one lakh litre capacities in Dhemaji, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Cachar, a 25,000 litre unit in Bajali, and a three lakh litre facility in Guwahati. He further mentioned that a new 1 lakh litre milk processing unit would also be established in Rani, near Guwahati by AMUL. These efforts, he affirmed, would serve as an incentive for farmers across Assam to expand stated that the state government would provide a subsidy of Rs. 5 per litre for milk brought in for processing. He added that the College of Veterinary Science, in collaboration with the National Dairy Development Board, is working to develop a new breed by crossbreeding Assam's indigenous Lakhimi cows with Gujarat's high-yielding Gir breed. Additionally, he shared that efforts are also underway to improve yield through artificial insemination. With these measures, he affirmed, the government aims to scale Assam's daily milk production to 15 lakh litres by livestock development, the Chief Minister emphasised the state's renewed focus on poultry and duck farming, noting that 90% of Assam's daily egg demand is currently met through imports. He observed that if merely 1,000 entrepreneurs' step forward, the state could achieve a daily production of one crore eggs within three years. Despite the Northeast hosting the country's largest pork market, he lamented the region's insufficient local production and stressed the government's commitment to addressing this gap. He also highlighted a national campaign to promote biogas and bio-CNG production, adding that efforts are underway to enable dairy enterprises to generate these from cattle dung - an initiative poised to offer farmers a valuable supplementary income stream.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bhutan delegation meets Assam CM Sarma, seeks synergy on Gelephu Mindfulness City Project
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Guwahati: An eleven-member delegation from Bhutan's Gelephu Mindfulness City Project that is on a visit to Assam and Meghalaya met Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at the latter's office in delegation included members of the Core Working Group of the Gelephu Mindfulness City project and officials from the Royal Bhutanese Consulate General. The meeting marked a warm and cordial exchange of ideas, reaffirming the ties between Assam and the Kingdom of extended his heartfelt appreciation for their visit and underscored the significance of the Gelephu Mindfulness City Project in promoting regional cooperation and sustainable development . He stated that the Government of Assam, aligned with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stands committed to supporting this project. He assured the delegation of cooperation and collaboration from the state administration in working closely with both the Royal Government of Bhutan and the Core Working Chief Minister noted that the project would serve as an important platform to deepen institutional collaboration as well as people-to-people ties between Assam and Bhutan. He also highlighted the project's potential benefits for the youth of both regions through opportunities in education, skill development, entrepreneurship, cultural exchange, and encouraged the delegation to visit key institutions in Assam, such as institutions of higher education and medical facilities, to explore further areas of synergy and cooperation. He also invited them to make use of various state-run facilities that may serve as models or partners in developing the Gelephu Mindfulness King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck's previous visit to Assam, the Chief Minister expressed his desire to host the entire royal family in the future. He emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration, stating that during the next visit of the Core Working Group, a broader, multi-sectoral meeting would be organized. This gathering would bring together a diverse group of stakeholders to enrich the discussions and support a holistic approach to development and partnership, he added. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation to strengthening bilateral ties for achieving shared goals.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Arms license policy not for people near inter-State borders: Assam CM
GUWAHATI Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday (May 29, 2025), clarified that his government's arms licence policy will not be applicable along the State's borders with Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland. Assam has had bloody border disputes with these four northeastern States, claiming more than 200 lives over more than five decades. The border disputes with Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya have been resolved partially. On Wednesday, the Assam Cabinet approved a policy to issue arms licences to 'original inhabitants and indigenous communities' living in vulnerable and border regions. 'There were some queries regarding whether the arms license policy would also apply to inter-State border areas such as those shared with Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, and Nagaland,' he posted on X. 'Let us clarify: Assam has always maintained that inter-State border issues are matters that can and should be resolved through mutual understanding and trust. We do not view these regions as vulnerable in the context of national security threats. Accordingly, the arms license policy will not be applicable to the inter-State border areas of Assam,' the Chief Minister said. 'The Government of Assam firmly believes that inter-State boundary issues are not security vulnerabilities, but matters best resolved through understanding and peaceful negotiation,' he said. According to the Cabinet decision, the arms licence policy will be applicable in the Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon, and South Salmara-Mankachar districts. Bengali-speaking Muslims are a majority in these districts, two of which — Dhubri and South Salmara-Mankachar — border Bangladesh. 'The Cabinet decision is important and sensitive. The indigenous people in these districts live in an atmosphere of insecurity due to the recent developments in Bangladesh. They face the threat of attacks from the Bangladesh side and even in their own villages,' Mr. Sarma told journalists. Insisting that the objective of the Cabinet decision was not to militarise the indigenous populations, he said the people in the vulnerable areas have been demanding arms licences for a long time. 'The government will be lenient in providing arms licences to eligible people, who must be original inhabitants and belong to indigenous communities. The government will not help such people living in vulnerable areas buy arms,' he said. 'Casting doubts on BSF' Reacting to the Cabinet decision, Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev from Barak Valley said the arms licence policy 'takes the credibility of the Assam government to zero.' She said the decision conveys a message to the people in border areas that the Border Security Force and the Assam police cannot protect them from 'illegal immigrants' and issues from across the (Bangladesh) border. 'The government can issue an arms license, but cannot tell someone what he can or cannot use a gun for. Once a person gets a gun, he can use it against anybody,' she said. 'Lastly, till today, nobody knows the proper definition of indigenous people. It is the Chief Minister of Assam who wakes up in the morning and decides who's indigenous and who's not. The NRC [National Register of Citizens] is in a hanging position. This issue has been raked up only because elections are round the corner,' Ms. Dev. She said the arms license policy sets a bad precedent and conveys to the country that the people of Assam are not safe under the 'double-engine sarkar'.
New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
'C-grade Bollywood movie that'll flop miserably': Gaurav Gogoi on Assam CM's allegations
"Since then, she has continued her work and took a new job in 2015. I also remember going with her once in 2013. Their (the BJP's) job is defamation and by raking this issue they are creating this whole thing like a C-grade Bollywood movie which they have said would be released on September 10. But that is going to be a flop miserably," he said. Gogoi said he would like to ask if there had been any wrongdoing on his wife or his part, then why the government had not acted in the last 11 years. "What were the government and probe agencies doing," he asked. Responding to Gogoi's remarks, Sarma posted on X, "Finally, Congress MP Shri Gaurav Gogoi has admitted that he visited Pakistan. But let us be very clear - this is just the beginning, not the end. What lies ahead is far more serious. There exists every reasonable ground, supported by credible inputs and documented information, to suggest that Shri Gogoi has maintained proximity with the Pakistani establishment." "The Government of Assam, committed to transparency and accountability, will make everything public on 10th September, once the Special Investigation Team (SIT) concludes its comprehensive inquiry. The people of Assam and the nation deserve the truth - and they shall have it, in full," Sarma said. But the people will also not forget - nor forgive - the Congress party and Rahul Gandhi for deliberately promoting such a "dangerous and compromised" individual into the public life of our country, he said.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Plot of C-grade movie': Congress' Gaurav Gogoi clarifies on wife's 'Pakistan links'; 'truth will be revealed on September 10', says Assam CM Sarma
NEW DELHI: Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi on Wednesday refuted Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma 's allegations regarding his British wife Elizabeth Colburn's alleged connection with Pakistan's ISI, calling it the 'plot of a C-grade Bollywood movie.' In his first public statement on the matter, Gogoi clarified that his wife spent only one year in Pakistan in 2013 while working on an international project focused on climate change in South Asia. 'About 14–15 years ago, my wife — a well-known expert in public policy — was involved in an international initiative addressing climate change in South Asia. As part of that work, she spent a year in Pakistan and then came to India in 2012–13, where she has been working ever since. In 2015, she took up a new job,' the Congress leader said. 'I accompanied her in 2013, about 12 years ago. The chief minister is trying to turn this into a C-grade Bollywood movie with a so-called release date of September 10. This story is bound to be a complete flop. The people of Assam are already aware of the truth,' he added. Gogoi also raised questions about the timing and intent behind the allegations. 'Our counter-question is this: if, according to these accusations, my wife or I committed any wrongdoing or illegal act, then who has been in power for the last 11–12 years? What have the central agencies been doing all this time? Everyone knows the level of scrutiny involved when someone crosses a national border — whether entering or exiting,' Gogoi said. 'As a leader of the opposition who speaks boldly and openly in Parliament, my biodata is known to everyone,' he added. Reacting to Gogoi's remarks, chief minister Sarma welcomed the Congress MP's 'admission' and claimed that credible evidence supports allegations of Gogoi's ties with the Pakistani establishment. 'Finally, Congress MP Shri Gaurav Gogoi has admitted that he visited Pakistan. But let us be very clear — this is just the beginning, not the end,' Sarma wrote on X. 'What lies ahead is far more serious. There exists every reasonable ground, supported by credible inputs and documented information, to suggest that Shri Gogoi has maintained proximity with the Pakistani establishment. The Government of Assam, committed to transparency and accountability, will make everything public on September 10, once the Special Investigation Team (SIT) concludes its comprehensive inquiry. The people of Assam and the nation deserve the truth — and they shall have it in full,' he added. 'But the people will also not forget — nor forgive — the Congress party and Shri Rahul Gandhi for deliberately promoting such a dangerous and compromised individual into the public life of our country," Sarma added. These statements come days after Sarma alleged that Gogoi visited Pakistan on the 'ISI's invitation' and worked closely with the establishment. Sarma had claimed, 'Gaurav Gogoi visited Pakistan on an invitation from the ISI. This is the first time I'm publicly stating this. We have documents to support it. He did not go there for tourism. He went there to receive training.' He added that Gogoi, who is the deputy leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha, traveled on a direct invitation from the Pakistani government, calling the visit 'dangerous.' 'He was working closely with the Pakistan establishment. When does a Home Department issue an invitation? Only to impart training,' Sarma asserted. 'An invitation from the foreign affairs department or a university is an entirely different matter. This was not from the foreign ministry or cultural department. He went on a direct invitation from Pakistan's Home Department,' he claimed.
