GUWAHATI, Sept 24 - Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today formally launched the �Free Drugs Scheme� for 651 tea garden hospitals across the State at a programme organised by the National Health Mission, Assam, and the Department of Health and Family Welfare here.
Launching the scheme, the Chief Minister said most of the tea garden hospitals in the State could not provide medicines to the patients from the tea tribe community and for that purpose the patients have to bear expenses in procuring medicines.
Schemes like Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) service in 442 tea gardens with 80 MMU vehicles and wage compensation of Rs 12,000 to each pregnant woman of tea garden areas in four instalments are some of the important initiatives of the State government towards ensuring better health for tea tribe community, he said.
Under the Free Drugs Scheme for tea garden hospitals, 142 essential drugs, 47 surgical items, 45 consumables and linens and six disinfectants will be provided free of cost to the 651 tea garden hospitals in the State. An amount of Rs 20 crore will be spent every year on the scheme.
Urging the people from the tea tribe community to inspire their children to acquire knowledge through education and excel in all spheres of life, Sonowal stated that the government can provide only the infrastructure but the community members must come forward to take advantage of the development to build their lives.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma said it is wrong to blame the whole tea tribe community after the Teok tea garden incident.
He emphasised on setting up more educational institutes like schools and colleges in the tea garden areas for spreading education and awareness. He also stressed the need to employ more doctors in tea garden hospitals to adequately handle patient loads.
Stating that the tea industry has been going through a lean phase for the last few years, Sarma said the State government would take steps to revive this industry which has been providing livelihoods to a large section of the population.
Several doctors working in tea garden hospitals were felicitated with Rs 25,000 each for their dedicated services.
Union Minister of State for Food Processing Rameswar Teli also spoke.
