Assam Government Covers Medical Costs for Forest Man Jadav Payeng

Guwahati: Assam Environment and Forest Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah visited Jorhat Medical College and Hospital on October 3 to check on Jadav Payeng. The environmentalist, famously dubbed the Forest Man of India, entered the hospital on October 1 with a high fever. His health is now stable. Doctors earlier moved him to intensive care when his oxygen levels crashed and he struggled to breathe.

Baruah stopped by the facility after leaving a reopening event at Kaziranga National Park. He met with medical staff and the hospital superintendent to review the veteran conservationist's care. Following the visit, the minister confirmed the Assam government will pay for all medical costs. Regarding Payeng, Baruah wrote, "His invaluable contribution to tree plantation and social forestry has earned global recognition."

Payeng spent decades turning a dead sandbar along the Brahmaputra River into a massive, lush forest. The government honored him with the Padma Shri in 2015 for his work in environmental conservation.

Updated at 4th October 2026 at 5:47pm

Beyond covering medical bills, Minister Baruah promised the state would assist Payeng's family in any way necessary. Payeng's daughter, Munmuni, confirmed his stability and thanked the hospital staff and government for the support.

Before his admission to the intensive care unit, Payeng had battled a cough and cold for several days. He remains under care for respiratory issues related to the forest he built, known as the Molai forest, which covers roughly 1,360 acres near Kokilamukh.