Guwahati: Assam has shed the tag of having the highest Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Thursday.
The latest Sample Registration System (SRS) 2019–21 report shows that the state recorded a sharp 28-point decline in MMR—from 195 to 167—marking the most substantial improvement among all Indian states.
Sharing the data on social media platform X, Sarma hailed the development as a “huge breakthrough for Assam,” noting that the decline represents a crucial shift in the state’s healthcare performance.
“This milestone would not have been possible without the visionary leadership and unwavering support of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji,” Sarma wrote, while also expressing gratitude to the state’s healthcare workers, ASHA workers, and all stakeholders involved in achieving this progress.
The report also highlighted progress in Assam’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which improved slightly from 38 to 36 deaths per 1,000 live births.
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According to the SRS data, the all-India MMR for the period 2019–21 stands at 93 deaths per 1,00,000 live births, while the national IMR for 2021 is 27 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Although Assam still has work to do to match national averages, the marked reduction in maternal and infant mortality rates reflects growing efficiency and outreach in the state’s healthcare system, particularly in maternal and child health services.
