Ghost Health Centres in Golaghat Spark Outrage, ATTSA Demands Action

In a stark display of government neglect and alleged public fund mismanagement, three fully-constructed health centres in Assam’s Golaghat district- located at Rongamati, Mishamara, and Negheriting remain non-operational even five years after completion.

Built in 2020 at a cumulative cost of around ₹1.5 crore, these health centres were intended to serve residents of nearby tea garden areas with essential healthcare services. Despite being equipped with the necessary infrastructure, all three centres remain locked and unused.

Over time, the buildings have become overrun with wild grass and weeds, with parts of the structures now showing signs of decay. Locals mockingly refer to them as mere "flower vases", buildings that serve no purpose beyond appearances.

Expressing strong resentment, members of the All Tea Tribes Students’ Association (ATTSA) and local residents staged protests, demanding immediate action from the state government. “These health centres have stood ghosted for five years with no doctors, no nurses. They were built only to woo voters, and now they lie abandoned,” said a protesting ATTSA member.

The protestors accused senior leaders, including Minister Ashok Singhal and AGP leader Atul Bora, of failing their constituents. “It’s shameful that crores were spent on these centres in their constituencies, yet not a single patient has been treated there. If no medical staff are deployed before the 2026 elections, we don’t believe they deserve our votes,” the protester added.

Locals highlighted the dire consequences of the centres remaining closed. “In case of accidents or emergencies, patients have to be rushed to Jorhat, Golaghat, or even Dhemaji. For people in the tea garden areas, that delay could mean life or death,” said another resident.

ATTSA has warned that continued neglect of these centres amounts to a betrayal of the healthcare rights of the region’s most marginalised communities. The organisation has urged the state government to immediately inaugurate and operationalise the health centres or face public backlash in the upcoming elections.

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