GUWAHATI — In a significant public health achievement, Assam is no longer the state with the highest maternal mortality, following a record 28-point drop in its Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced Thursday, citing the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) report for 2019–21.
Taking to X, Sarma hailed the development as a “huge breakthrough” for Assam, stating that the state’s MMR has fallen from 195 to 167, marking the steepest improvement among all states. He further shared that Assam has also made progress in reducing its Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which has improved from 38 to 36.
The chief minister attributed the milestone to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the collective efforts of the healthcare community. “This milestone would not have been possible without the visionary leadership and unwavering support of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji. Gratitude to our healthcare workers, ASHAs & all who made this possible,” Sarma wrote.
The SRS report notes that India’s overall MMR now stands at 93 deaths per 100,000 live births, while the national IMR is at 27 deaths per 1,000 live births. Assam’s gains reflect focused efforts in maternal healthcare delivery, community health outreach, and policy-driven reforms aimed at reducing preventable deaths among mothers and infants.