In a significant move to strengthen the rural health infrastructure in Jharkhand, the state government has approved ₹619.93 crore for the construction of 1117 new health sub-centers. Each center will receive ₹55.50 lakh under this initiative. The decision was formally approved by Ajay Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department.
This infrastructure development project falls under the ambit of the 15th Finance Commission for the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The scheme was cleared in a State Level Committee meeting held on April 8, 2025, aligning with the guidelines set by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, to improve health services through autonomous bodies.
As per the 2011 Census, Jharkhand has 4,345 panchayats. Of these, 2,931 panchayats currently have health sub-centers, while 167 are served by primary health centers, community health centers, or sub-divisional hospitals. However, 949 panchayats remain without any formal health facility.
To bridge this gap, the Director General of Health Services, Jharkhand, submitted a proposal highlighting the urgent need for new sub-centers in underserved areas. The Finance Commission has approved the construction of 1,095 new sub-centers for FY 2024-25 and 2025-26. Additionally, 22 sub-centers will be built through inter-component adjustments, bringing the total to 1,117.
It is important to note that not all previously approved sub-centers had buildings available for construction. To address this, a systematic location identification process was undertaken. The State Level Committee has now granted approval for the finalized sites.