**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2231 regarding the upgradation of health centers in Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts of West Bengal since 2019. The response details the financial and technical support provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under the National Health Mission (NHM). Key initiatives include PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) and 15th Finance Commission (FC-XV) Health Grants, with allocated amounts for specific projects spanning FY 2021-22 to 2025-26. The question was scheduled to be answered on December 12, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **National Health Mission (NHM) Support:**
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to States/UTs to strengthen public healthcare systems under the NHM.
* Approvals are based on Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) and Records of Proceedings (RoPs).
* **State/UT Responsibility:**
* Strengthening the public healthcare system is primarily the responsibility of the State/Union Territories, based on their requirements and fund availability.
* The Central Government provides assistance to State/UT governments.
* **Central Releases to West Bengal under NHM:**
* Central releases to West Bengal from FY 2019-20 to FY 2025-26 are detailed, with FY 2019-20 receiving ₹1,749.32 Cr and FY 2025-26 receiving ₹522.46 Cr (up to 19.11.2025).
* **PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM):**
* Administrative approvals for West Bengal under PM-ABHIM total ₹1309.32 Crores for FY 2021-22 to 2025-26.
* Projects include construction/strengthening of 385 Building-less Sub-Health Centers (SHC), 204 Urban-Ayushman Arogya Mandir (U-AAM), 23 Integrated Public Health Lab (IPHL) and 22 Critical Care Blocks(CCBs)
* In Darjeeling, 1 IPHL and 1 CCB are approved.
* In Kalimpong, 1 IPHL is approved.
* **15th Finance Commission (FC-XV) Health Grants:**
* ₹4318.63 Crore approved for West Bengal under FC-XV Health Grants for FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
* This includes establishment/strengthening of 1551 Building less SHCs, 80 Building less PHCs, 7 Building less CHCs, 341 Block Public Health Units, and 1584 Urban- AAMs.
* **Access to Health Facility Details:**
* Details of health facilities and resources can be found on the Health Dynamics of India (HDI) 2022–23 website.
* Details of health projects approved for West Bengal can be found on the NHM website.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of West Bengal**
* **Impact:** The West Bengal government is responsible for strengthening the public healthcare system in accordance with requirements and fund availability. The State benefits from central government funding and technical support for healthcare initiatives.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing health programs, submitting proposals for funding under NHM, and utilizing allocated funds efficiently for infrastructure development and healthcare improvements.
**Darjeeling and Kalimpong Districts**
* **Impact:** Residents of these districts stand to benefit from improved healthcare infrastructure and services through the upgradation of health centers under various schemes.
* **Action Required:** Monitor and evaluate the progress of the approved projects (IPHL and CCB in Darjeeling, IPHL in Kalimpong) to ensure timely and effective implementation.
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
* **Impact:** The Ministry is responsible for providing financial and technical support for improving health care facilities in the State.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the provided funds are used efficiently for their intended purpose, monitor the progress of projects undertaken by the State government, and provide support where needed.
Key Entities Referenced
National Health Mission (NHM): A scheme under which the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system.
West Bengal: The state in which Darjeeling and Kalimpong districts are located, and the recipient of health grants and approvals mentioned in the response.
PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector Components which has an outlay of Rs. 64,180 Crores for the scheme period (2021-22 to 2025-26).
15th Finance Commission (FC-XV) Health Grants: Health grants approved for the State of West Bengal for the period of FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The central ministry responsible for providing technical and financial support through schemes like NHM.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2231
TO BE ANSWERED ON12.12.2025
UPGRADATIONOFHEALTH CENTRES
2231. SHRIRAJU BISTA:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) the number of (Primary Health Centres) PHCs, (Sub-Health Centres) SHCs, (Community
Health Centres) CHCs and (Health and Wellness Centres) HWCs in Darjeeling and
Kalimpongdistricts inthe State of West Bengal,block-wise;
(b) the amount of funds allocated for upgradation of PHCs, SHCs, CHCs and HWCs in the
said districts since 2019 till date block-wise; and
(c)the detailsof work undertaken inthisregardandthe current status thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND
FAMILYWELFARE
(SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) to(c): Under National Health Mission (NHM), the Ministry of Health andFamily Welfare
provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare
system, based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans
(PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the
proposal inthe form of Recordof Proceedings (RoPs) aspernorms& availableresources.
The details of health facilities functioning in rural and urban areas across all
States/UTs, including the districts of Darjeeling and Kalimpong in West Bengal, along with
information on available resources, can be accessed at the following URL of Health
Dynamicsof India (HDI) 2022–23:
https://mohfw.gov.in/sites/default/files/Health%20Dynamics%20of%20India%20%28Infrastr
ucture%20%26%20Human%20Resources%29%202022-23_RE%20%281%29.pdf
It is primary responsibility of the State/Union Territories(UTs) to strengthen public
healthcare system under their jurisdiction in accordance with requirement and fund
availability. However, the Central Government provides assistance to the State/UT
Governments in their efforts to provide better health care facilities to people through various
schemes. The detailsof the schemesare asunder:The detailsof Central Releasestothe Stateof West Bengal underNHMfrom FY2019
-20toFY2025-26 isasunder:
FinancialYear CentralRelease(₹inCr)
2019-20 1,749.32
2020-21 1,895.01
2021-22 1,654.26
2022-23 1,252.32
2023-24 890.42
2024-25 688.44
2025-26 522.46(up to19.11.2025)
The details of health projects approved for the State of West Bengal including districts of
DarjeelingandKalimpongsince 2019are availableinpublic domainat:
https://nhm.gov.in/index4.php?lang=1&level=0&linkid=62&lid=75
PM-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) is a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) with some Central Sector Components (CS)
which hasanoutlayof Rs. 64,180Crores for the scheme period (2021-22 to2025-26).
Under the CSS Component of PM-ABHIM, administrative approvals have been accorded
to the State of West Bengal for an amount of Rs.1309.32 Crores, for
construction/strengthening of 385 Building-less Sub-Health Centers (SHC), 204 Urban-
Ayushman Arogya Mandir (U-AAM), 23 Integrated Public Health Lab (IPHL) and 22
CriticalCare Blocks(CCBs) during the scheme periodof FY2021-22 to2025-26.
In the district of Darjeeling, 1 IPHL and 1 CCB amounting to Rs. 1.25 crores and Rs.
23.75 Crores have been approved. Whereas in Kalimpong district, 1 IPHL of Rs. 1.25
croreshave beenapproved.
15th Finance Commission (FC-XV) Health Grants: Under Fifteenth Finance
Commission (XV-FC) Health Grants, for the State of West Bengal, Rs.4318.63 Crore
has been approved for the period of 5 year from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26, for
establishment/ strengthening of 1551 Building less SHCs, 80 Building less PHCs, 7
Buildingless CHCs, 341BlockPublicHealth Units, and1584 Urban- AAMs.
****