Assam has emerged as the state with the lowest life expectancy in India, averaging just 66 years, according to recent data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5).This figure not only falls below the national average of approximately 69 years but also trails behind other Northeastern states, with neighboring Nagaland boasting a life expectancy exceeding 75 years.
Health experts attribute Assam's lagging life expectancy to a combination of factors, including air pollution, poor dietary habits, high blood pressure, smoking, and environmental hazards.Dr. Rahul Mehra, UNESCO Chair Representative for Global Health and Education, emphasized the urgency of integrating health education into school curricula to address these issues from an early age.He highlighted that 68% of children aged 6 months to 5 years and 66% of women in Assam suffer from anemia, underscoring the need for preventive measures.
In terms of health system performance, Assam has shown some progress.The NITI Aayog's "Healthy States, Progressive India" report recognized Assam as one of the most improved states in health, noting a 4.8-point increase in its health index score.However, the state still faces significant challenges in achieving better health outcomes.
Financial constraints further complicate the situation.The NITI Aayog's Fiscal Health Index (FHI) for the financial year 2023 assessed the fiscal health of eighteen major Indian states, excluding Northeastern states like Assam.This exclusion highlights the need for more comprehensive data to address the unique challenges faced by these regions.
Experts advocate for a multifaceted approach to improve health outcomes in Assam.Recommendations include implementing health education in schools, promoting awareness about nutrition and hygiene, and addressing environmental issues such as air pollution.Dr. Mehra also suggested practical measures like the use of air purifiers and continued mask usage to mitigate pollution-related health risks.
Addressing these health challenges is crucial for enhancing the quality of life in Assam and aligning the state's health indicators with national and regional standards.
TINSUKIA: A local court in Tinsukia has ordered ten years rigorous imprisonment of a tea garden worker four years after he raped a girl of his locality. Judge PJ Saikia, further has imposed Rs 10,000 as compensation to the victim failing which he would have spend six more months in the jail. Identified a Krishna Karmakar, the tea garden worker in Silikha Tea Estate was arrested on the rape charge in 2013. The police chargesheeted him in 2015. The court convicted him and ordered RI for ten years much to the satisfaction of many local organizations and individuals who lauded the prompt action of the police men who were probing the incident.
GUWAHATI: Eight people sustained serious injury when a devastating fire broke out a semi commercial area in the outskirt of Guwahati on Monday. The incident took place in the wee hours at Bihapara in Goroimari when a house caught fire because of electric short circuit. Within half an hours the fire spread and engulfed as many as ten shops since many LPG cylinders exploded under the impact of the huge inferno. Local residents in large number came and brought the situation under control in the absence of firefighters. The injured were initially rushed to the nearby hospital to be shifted to Guwahati for better treatment. The extent of damage has yet to be ascertained. But it is said to be...
NEW DELHI: A BJP women delegation from Karimganj on Monday is calling on minister for external affairs Sushma Swaraj seeking her intervention to bring back Mousumi Das who has been jailed in Bangladeshi for possession of no valid passport.Led by Shipra Goon, the delegation has been camping in New Delhi to mount pressure on the Centre to repatriate Mousumi, a student who is said to have eloped with a Bangladeshi national before being arrested on the soil of Bangladesh.
Kokrajhar: The Assam Tribal Sangha demands measures to protect the tribal belt and blocks in the state to meet welfare and development of the tribals. The demand took a formal snap as the organization held its triennial conference of the Kokrajhar district unit at Jharbari High School on Saturday. Sangha president Mahesh Chandra Brahma hoisted Sangha flag followed by 14 primary committees while Vice president of the sangha Bhojnath Narzary paid homage to martyrs on the day. Brahma slammed the state government for not taking any measures towards the tribal peoples. He demanded strict protection of tribal belt and blocks mean for tribal communities, fill up the backlog posts...
GUWAHATI: The United Liberation Front of Asom (I) is still firm on its goal of independence. In a statement released to mark the occasion of the rebel outfit’s Raising Day on Saturday, chairman Dr Abhijit Asom said nobody can belittle the struggle for independence. He said the state and its people needs to formulate a policy to implement “equity” in real sense of the term where minor ones must not feel ley down He said the election process needs a drastic change. According to him, the polling authority should hand over a duplicate or carbon copy of the battle paper to the voters for record. He said it would the electoral system vibrant. On this day in 1979, the rebel outfit formed...
GUWAHATI: Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju said some outside forces have been trying to monger trouble in the north eastern region. Without naming anybody at a press conference in Guwahati on Saturday, Rijiju said,”I won't name. But I can tell you that some forces from outside have been trying to monger trouble in the state.” Amid summering protest anger over the speculated move to appease the Naga rebels at cost territorial integrity of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, the home minister said frame work agreement, if implement, in no way will disturb the territory of any north eastern state. “It deals only with the political aspiration of the people. Territorial...
GUWAHATI: Peace talks with the major north eastern rebel groups are in final stage, says Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju as he was addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Saturday. According to him, most of the demands the Centre has received from ULFA are genuine and could be resolved through negotiation. “We are hopeful. The process is in final stage. We have hiked the stipend amount of the surrendered rebels,” said the Union minister. Raju, who himself hails from Arunachal Pradesh said,”normalcy is back to the north east since we formed the government at the Centre. In Assam peace prevails. Manipur is almost calm and Nagaland is comparatively is quiet.”...
Kokrajhar: BTAD chief Hagrama Mohilary reviewed the development works and implementation of the various schemes meant for Chirang district at a meeting in Kajalgaon on Friday.. Mohilary asked the officers to ensure proper and timely implementation of the schemes and that the district wise meetings would keep an eye on the functioning of the departmental heads in the district levels. "The primary objectives of the discussion is to bring visible changes in terms of development in all the district of BTC area,” he added. He further said that the meeting reviewed and examined the problems and grievances of the government departments as to have inclusive development...
BOKAKHAT: The forest guards in Kaziranga claimed to have eliminated a dreaded rhino poacher at an encounter inside the national park on Saturday. According to information, the fierce gun battle took place at Deochurchang in Borhapahar range in the wee hours where the poacher died on the spot. They further recovered an AK-47 rifle along with 153 rounds of bullets from his possession.
GUWAHATI: Veteran Assamese film maker Munin Baruah passed away after prolonged illness leaving a pall of gloom across the state on Saturday. He was 71 as he breathed his last in the wee hours to be survived by his wife and two children. Born in 1947 in Golaghat Baruah wrote as many as 21 film scripts apart from directing Hiya Diya Niya, Dag, Pita Putra, Prabhati Pokhir Gan and many others. His Dinabandhu clinched national award a couple of years back. Film personalities and his fans in large number thronged his residence in Guwahati as soon as the news of his demise spread like wildfire. Many of these film personalities paid their last respect to Baruah whose body would be brought to...
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