The Hans Foundation (THF) has joined hands with the Government of Assam to launch two initiatives aimed at improving education and healthcare in tea garden communities. These collaborative efforts aim to enhance the quality of life for students and tea estate workers across the region.
The “Uttam Xikhya” initiative aims to improve secondary education in 100 tea garden schools over five years, providing quality education, teacher training, STEM labs, ICT resources, and community-based learning centres for grades 6-12. Concurrently, 24 Mobile Medical Units (MMUs) have been launched to serve 120 tea gardens in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts. This initiative aims to enhance healthcare access for tea estate workers and their families, and was celebrated in a launch event held at the Chota Tingrai Tea Estate, Tinsukia.
The event witnessed Sanjoy Kishan, Minister of Tea Tribes and Labour Welfare, Government of Assam, who served as the Chief Guest. The event also featured addresses from prominent figures such as Rameswar Teli, Ex-Cabinet Minister, Dr B Kalyan Chakravarthy, IAS, Principal Secretary, Labour Welfare Department to Govt of Assam, District Commissioner of Tinsukia District, Sandeep Kapur, CEO of The Hans Foundation, and Vijay Jamwal, Senior Director, The Hans Foundation.
The MMUs are equipped with medical technology and staffed by qualified healthcare professionals. Each MMU will feature an MBBS doctor, nurse, pharmacist, and lab technician, providing essential services such as OPD consultations, free medicines, diagnostic tests, and counselling.
The MMUs will aim to conduct 22 medical camps every month and will offer doorstep services, ensuring comprehensive healthcare reaches even the most isolated communities. Services will include home visits for the elderly and persons with disabilities, as well as referrals to tertiary care centres for critical cases.
The Hans Foundation will cover the project implementation costs and offer free healthcare services to beneficiaries. Support from the Labour Welfare Department and district administrations will facilitate regular administrative assistance, reinforcing the effort to address health disparities among vulnerable populations in these remote tea garden regions.