Agartala, 5th August 2026 : Residents of Lakshminagar Gram Panchayat under the 55-Bagbasa Assembly constituency have demanded the immediate reopening of the government Ayurvedic Centre, which has remained closed for more than 12 years due to the absence of a doctor. Villagers say the prolonged closure has left over 4,000 people without access to basic healthcare facilities, forcing them to travel long distances for treatment.
The Ayurvedic Centre, along with the Ayushman Bharat Health Sub-Centre complex, is spread across nearly seven kanis of land in Lakshminagar. According to locals, the facility once served as a vital healthcare hub under the leadership of Dr. Gauri Shankar Bhowmik, attracting patients not only from Lakshminagar but also from neighbouring villages. However, services came to a complete halt around 2012 after the post of the doctor fell vacant.
Lakshminagar Gram Panchayat Pradhan Jharna Nath said the infrastructure remains intact and there are no issues with the premises. She stressed that the only obstacle to restarting the facility is the non-appointment of a doctor. Reopening the centre, she said, would ensure that residents receive timely treatment and essential medicines close to home.
Local resident Pritam Nath expressed frustration over the prolonged closure, stating that despite repeated deputations to the government, no action has been taken. He said villagers are compelled to visit Dharmanagar, Shanichhara and other distant hospitals even for minor ailments, causing unnecessary hardship.
Residents have urged the state government and the Health Department to appoint a qualified Ayurvedic doctor without further delay and restore healthcare services at the long-defunct centre.
