Fact Finding Report on Maternal Health in the Tea Estates of Sonitpur District, Assam

Post Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2016

The primary objective of the visit was to follow up on the situation of maternal health on Tea Estates and on the implementation of National Rural Health Mission’s (NRHM) guidelines for standards in public health care facilities in rural areas of Assam; as Assam has the highest Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the country. 

Testimonies of the women show thatthe NRHM health entitlements are not adhered to as the hospital staff’s including the Medical Officer know nothing about the various benefits that government provides through public private partnership initiative.

The interviews provided below in page 2-4 of women who have visited the facility for treatment and the fact finding visit report presented below shown in page 4-7 clearly reflects a systematic failure of the State government machinery who is responsible for monitoring of health services; and the Tea Estates who have signed a MoU to provide services to the poorest of the poor and the most marginalised, through acts and omissions to adhere to Constitutional obligations to protect women’s reproductive rights, including the right to life and health enshrined in the Constitution of India and various international treaties.