Samagra Shiksha, Assam (SSA) has directed all district authorities to implement the Mukhya Mantrir Lok Seva Arogya Yojana (MMLSAY) for contractual teachers and staff across the state, extending cashless health coverage to a significant segment of education-sector employees. District authorities were instructed to complete the collection of necessary undertakings and employee registrations by June 15, 2026, according to official communications.

This directive aims to provide crucial financial relief and access to quality healthcare for contractual teachers and staff working under SSA, who were previously not fully covered under comprehensive cashless schemes. The move signifies a broader commitment by the Assam government to enhance the welfare of its contractual workforce, aligning their health benefits with those enjoyed by regular state government employees and pensioners.

What was announced

The Samagra Shiksha, Assam (SSA) issued a directive to all district authorities, instructing them to roll out the Mukhya Mantrir Lok Seva Arogya Yojana (MMLSAY) for contractual teachers and staff. This includes contractual teachers under SSA and the State Pool, as well as personnel from District Mission Offices (DMOs) and Block Mission Offices (BMOs), as confirmed by official communications.

The directive mandated that all districts ensure the completion of undertakings and employee registrations for the scheme by June 15, 2026. Eligible employees wishing to avail themselves of the cashless medical treatment benefits under MMLSAY are required to submit an undertaking consenting to the deduction of a prescribed monthly contribution from their salaries.

Teachers and staff whose details are already available in the Employee Information System (EIS) portal can complete their registration through the official mmlsay.assam.gov.in portal using the beneficiary or employee login facility. Training on the registration process has already been provided to district and block Management Information System (MIS) officials, according to the directive.

Why it matters

The extension of MMLSAY to contractual teachers and staff under SSA is a significant step towards ensuring equitable access to healthcare for a large section of the state’s education workforce. Previously, many contractual employees faced challenges in accessing comprehensive medical benefits, often relying on reimbursement models that could cause financial strain.

Under MMLSAY, beneficiaries are entitled to cashless and reimbursement options for health-related treatments, with a health coverage of up to five lakh rupees. This scheme provides financial support for medical emergencies and treatments, reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure for employees and their families. The benefits are provided at rates equivalent to those of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS), as stated by officials.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has consistently emphasised the government’s commitment to employee welfare and streamlining access to medical care. This extension is expected to bring much-needed relief to thousands of contractual teachers and staff, offering them peace of mind regarding their health expenses.

Background

The Mukhya Mantrir Lok Seva Arogya Yojana (MMLSAY) was initially launched by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 2, 2023. It began as an online medical bill reimbursement scheme designed to simplify and expedite the process for state government employees, pensioners, and their dependents.

Prior to MMLSAY, employees and pensioners often faced bureaucratic delays and cumbersome processes for medical reimbursements, sometimes waiting years for their dues. To address these hardships and introduce a more efficient system, the government progressively introduced a cashless payment option.

The cashless treatment facility under MMLSAY, also known as Ayushman Asom Mukhya Mantri Lok Sevak Arogya Yojana (AA-MMLSAY), was officially launched on October 30, 2025, at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati. This initiative allowed beneficiaries to access medical services without upfront payments in empanelled hospitals across Assam and in leading corporate hospitals nationwide.

The scheme is funded through contributions made by employees themselves, operating on a contribution-based subscription model with monthly deductions based on the employee’s grade. This self-sustaining model differentiates it from other government-funded schemes like Ayushman Bharat Jan Arogya Yojana.

The Assam government has also undertaken various initiatives to improve the working conditions and welfare of contractual teachers. In January 2025, Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced the regularisation of 9,800 contractual teachers under the state pool. Furthermore, in September 2024, Chief Minister Sarma distributed 23,956 permanent appointment letters to contractual and state pool teachers in upper and lower primary schools under SSA, marking a significant step towards job security. In January 2026, the Department of School Education provided financial assistance of five lakh rupees each to the families of 46 deceased contractual teachers and employees under Samagra Shiksha, Assam.

Key details

The implementation of MMLSAY for contractual teachers and staff under Samagra Shiksha, Assam, requires eligible employees to formally opt into the scheme. This involves submitting an undertaking that signifies their consent for a prescribed monthly contribution to be deducted from their salaries.

The registration process is facilitated through the official MMLSAY portal, mmlsay.assam.gov.in. Employees whose details are already integrated into the Employee Information System (EIS) portal can utilise their existing login credentials for registration. The deadline for completing these registrations and submitting undertakings was June 15, 2026.

Once successfully registered and the undertakings are submitted, the monthly contributions will be deducted from the respective employees’ salary bills. The deducted amounts will then be deposited under a specific Head of Account, details of which are to be communicated separately by the authorities.

The scheme provides health coverage up to five lakh rupees per beneficiary, offering both cashless treatment and reimbursement options. The cashless services are available at a network of empanelled hospitals, including all government medical colleges and hospitals in Assam, facilities under the Assam Cancer Care Foundation, Dr. B. Barooah Cancer Institute, GNRC Group of Hospitals, Downtown Hospital, Max Healthcare Hospital, Medanta – The Medicity in Gurgaon, and Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya Hospital in Guwahati. Discussions are ongoing to expand this network to include more major healthcare providers, such as AIIMS Guwahati and Fortis Group.

What’s next

With the deadline for undertaking collection and employee registrations having passed on June 15, 2026, the focus will now shift to the seamless integration of the newly registered contractual teachers and staff into the MMLSAY system. This includes ensuring that monthly contributions are accurately deducted and that health cards are issued promptly to enable cashless access to medical services.

The government is expected to continue monitoring the implementation of the scheme and address any operational challenges that may arise during the initial phases of its extension to this new category of beneficiaries. Further enhancements and expansions to the network of empanelled hospitals may also be considered to broaden access to healthcare services for all MMLSAY beneficiaries.

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