📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / JyotiPN
Health
Assam Government to Fund Medical Treatment for ‘Forest Man’ Jadav Payeng
✍️ India Today NE
🗓 04 Oct 2026, 01:46 PM
👁 13
The Assam state administration announced it will cover all medical expenses for environmental activist Jadav Payeng, popularly known as the Forest Man.
The Assam government has formally agreed to bear the treatment costs of Jadav Payeng, the environmental activist widely celebrated as the "Forest Man" for his decades‑long effort in converting a barren sandbar on the Brahmaputra into a thriving forest.
Payeng, who hails from the Majuli region of Assam, has been battling health issues that require ongoing medical attention. The state’s decision ensures that his treatment will be fully financed by government health schemes, relieving him of the financial burden.
Officials said the move reflects recognition of Payeng’s contribution to biodiversity conservation and his role in inspiring community‑based afforestation across the state. The health department will coordinate with designated hospitals to provide the necessary care.
The announcement was made during a brief press briefing, where the chief minister’s office emphasized that supporting individuals who have made significant environmental contributions aligns with Assam’s broader welfare policies.
Payeng’s work, which began in the early 1990s, has turned a 1,400‑hectare area into a sanctuary for wildlife and a model for climate‑resilient land use, earning him national and international accolades.
Payeng, who hails from the Majuli region of Assam, has been battling health issues that require ongoing medical attention. The state’s decision ensures that his treatment will be fully financed by government health schemes, relieving him of the financial burden.
Officials said the move reflects recognition of Payeng’s contribution to biodiversity conservation and his role in inspiring community‑based afforestation across the state. The health department will coordinate with designated hospitals to provide the necessary care.
The announcement was made during a brief press briefing, where the chief minister’s office emphasized that supporting individuals who have made significant environmental contributions aligns with Assam’s broader welfare policies.
Payeng’s work, which began in the early 1990s, has turned a 1,400‑hectare area into a sanctuary for wildlife and a model for climate‑resilient land use, earning him national and international accolades.