By Firstdespatch Desk May 15, 2026
Agartala, May 15 (FD) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday hailed the contribution of ASHA workers in strengthening the state’s healthcare delivery system and announced a major expansion of medical education infrastructure during the state-level ASHA convention held at the International Fair Ground Indoor Hall in Hapania.
Addressing the convention themed “Ekotay Gori Sustho Rajya” (Building a Healthy State Through Unity), the Chief Minister described the state’s 7,866 ASHA workers as the “symbol of trust” in public healthcare and credited them with ensuring health services reach people from remote hill areas to urban centres.
“ASHA workers have played a vital role in keeping the healthcare system active alongside doctors and medical staff. Whether during natural disasters or pandemics, they have repeatedly brought hope and support to ordinary citizens,” Dr. Saha said.
The Chief Minister also announced that the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sanctioned nearly Rs 273 crore for the expansion of infrastructure at Agartala Government Medical College. The project is expected to increase MBBS seats by 100 and postgraduate seats by 83, significantly boosting medical education and healthcare capacity in the state.
At the beginning of the programme, Dr. Saha flagged off 24 mobile medical ambulances provided under the National Health Mission to deliver healthcare services in villages covered under the Prime Minister Janman and Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan schemes. He also visited thematic pavilions set up at the venue.
Highlighting the government’s focus on healthcare quality, the Chief Minister said ASHA workers are key partners in achieving better healthcare outcomes. He asserted that the government remains committed to improving their working conditions, increasing honorariums, and ensuring their rightful benefits without the need for agitation.
Dr. Saha stated that ASHA workers have been instrumental in creating awareness on diseases, promoting institutional deliveries, maternal and child immunisation, nutrition, and primary healthcare services across the state.
Sharing health indicators, the Chief Minister said Tripura achieved nearly 97 percent vaccination coverage in the 2025–26 financial year, while the Mukhyamantri Sustha Shaishab and Sustha Kaishore programme recorded 100 percent success. He further informed that Spot Diarrhoea Camps have been launched to make the state diarrhoea-free, targeting around three lakh children aged between zero and five years. He also noted that 48 mobile health teams are currently functioning under the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
During the event, the Chief Minister inaugurated the ASHA Mobile App and an ASHA theme song. One best ASHA worker and one best ASHA facilitator from each district were honoured with financial awards of Rs 5,000 and commemorative mementoes. A best District ASHA Programme Manager was also felicitated.
The government additionally announced that Android smartphones would be distributed to all ASHA workers and facilitators across the state to help them access healthcare-related information more efficiently. Dr. Saha symbolically handed over mobile phones to two workers during the programme.
Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, National Health Mission Joint Director Dr. Nupur Debbarma, and several senior health officials attended the event along with ASHA workers and facilitators from all eight districts of the state. FD SB