Assam: 11 new ambulances remain abandoned in Dhubri amidst legal dispute

Eleven new ambulances procured to enhance healthcare in rural Assam have been left abandoned for over a year at the Gauripur Community Health Centre in Dhubri. 

The vehicles, which were meant to serve six districts in the lower Assam region, now lie unused, depriving rural communities of critical medical services.  

The ambulances, bearing the insignia of the National Health Mission (NHM) Assam and linked to the National Mobile Medical Unit (NMMU), were acquired under the Community Action Through Motivation Programme (CAMP), an NGO. These vehicles were registered under Sairam Techno Management Solutions Pvt. Ltd., with the procurement tender awarded to CAMP in July 2023.  

However, shortly after procurement, a legal dispute erupted when Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT) filed a case against CAMP, the State of Assam, and the NHM Mission Director. The case, registered as SLP(C) No. 014928/2023 in the Supreme Court of India, has stalled operations, leaving the ambulances idle and gathering rust.  

These vehicles were intended to serve districts including Dhubri, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Goalpara, and South Salmara Mankachar. Yet, their abandonment has sparked widespread outrage. Local residents and activists have criticized the health department for its mismanagement, calling it a waste of resources and a betrayal of public trust.  

“These ambulances were supposed to bring healthcare to underserved areas. Instead, they have become symbols of inefficiency,” said a local resident. Public health advocates have questioned the rationale behind acquiring new ambulances while failing to maintain the existing fleet.  

Critics are now demanding a thorough investigation into the misuse of public funds and urging the government to resolve the legal impasse swiftly. Health activists emphasize that deploying these ambulances is crucial to addressing the healthcare gap in rural areas.  

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