In a significant leap forward for maternal healthcare, Assam has recorded a dramatic decline in its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), dropping from 480 deaths per one lakh live births in 2006 to just 125 in 2022. This marks a remarkable 75% reduction over 16 years—an achievement that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described as the “sharpest drop ever recorded by any Indian state.”
Assam Achieves Historic 75% Drop in Maternal Mortality Ratio
Terming the accomplishment as a landmark moment in Assam’s healthcare journey, the Chief Minister emphasized that each statistic in this decline represents not just a number but a life saved — a mother returning home to her child, and a future protected. “Behind every percentage point is a human life, a family that didn’t lose a mother. This is not just a health metric, it’s a deeply human milestone,” he said during a press briefing.
Sarma, who began his political career in public health as Assam’s Health Minister and now leads the state as its Chief Minister, expressed personal pride in the transformation. He recalled the grim reality in 2006 when Assam had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country, compounded by a birth rate of 25.0, a total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.9, and institutional delivery rates as low as 22.4%.
“At that time, states like Kerala were already far ahead, with an MMR of 95. The gap seemed daunting,” he reflected. “But today, Assam has not only closed that gap—it has surpassed states like Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. This progress is a testament to years of unwavering commitment to healthcare reforms.”
According to the Chief Minister, this progress was achieved through sustained investment in medical infrastructure, strategic policy implementation, and community-level engagement. Over the past decade and a half, the state government has expanded its healthcare infrastructure significantly. Assam is now home to 13 medical colleges, 22 district hospitals, 221 community health centers, 1,017 primary health centers, and 4,875 sub-centers.
Every one of Assam’s 35 districts now has a functioning Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) center. Additionally, the state has established 84 First Referral Units (FRUs), and an Ayurvedic medical college and hospital to broaden its healthcare reach. These facilities are supported by a growing network of healthcare professionals — a cornerstone of Assam’s maternal health success story.
Currently, the state’s healthcare workforce includes 5,769 doctors, 7,419 staff nurses, 9,989 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), 3,212 community health officers, and 7,903 paramedical personnel. This network is further bolstered by the ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) programme, which has expanded significantly since its introduction in 2006. Today, over 33,656 ASHA workers and 2,675 supervisors are active across Assam, playing a vital role in ensuring maternal and child healthcare reaches the last mile.
Chief Minister Sarma attributed much of the improvement to a revolutionary rise in institutional deliveries. From a mere 22% in 2006, institutional births in the state have now surged to 97%. “This means that out of every 100 babies born today in Assam, 97 are delivered in healthcare institutions, with government hospitals handling nearly 90% of those,” Sarma noted. He termed this change “the single most impactful transformation” in maternal healthcare.
Another major contributing factor has been the state’s ongoing crackdown on child marriages and adolescent pregnancies, particularly in vulnerable communities such as those in remote tribal belts and tea garden areas. “Maternal mortality used to be alarmingly high in these regions. We took firm steps to address early marriages and teenage pregnancies, which are closely linked to maternal deaths,” the Chief Minister said. He also mentioned that the current data does not yet reflect the full impact of these interventions, especially those initiated after 2023. “Once that data is integrated, we expect even more encouraging results,” he added.
Beyond maternal health, other key indicators also point toward a broader public health transformation. Assam’s Total Fertility Rate has declined from 2.9 to 2.1, bringing it in line with India’s replacement level. The Infant Mortality Rate has also seen a significant drop—from 68 in 2006 to 32 in 2022—placing Assam among the top-performing states in terms of improvement.
Looking forward, Sarma reiterated his government’s resolve to maintain and further build on this progress. Over the next five years, the state plans to construct 100 new hospitals with dedicated maternity wards across districts. Additionally, work is underway to establish 51 more FRUs, aiming to ensure that by 2029, every district in Assam has both a First Referral Unit and a medical college.
“This is not just a matter of policy; it is a matter of human dignity and justice,” the Chief Minister emphasized. “We have come a long way from being at the bottom of the healthcare index. Today, Assam is in a position to inspire the rest of the country, proving that determined governance, data-driven reforms, and a strong public health system can save lives at scale.”
He added that the state’s success story is also an acknowledgment of the tireless efforts of its healthcare workers — doctors, nurses, midwives, ASHA workers, and other frontline personnel — who have worked in challenging conditions to bring care and dignity to mothers across Assam.
With this milestone, Assam is not only closing its gap with the national average in maternal health but is also emerging as a frontrunner in implementing holistic, equity-focused public health reforms.
