Nongstoin, October 15: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday formally declared the Rs 31.05-crore Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Hospital at Nongstoin operational, marking an important step towards strengthening maternal and newborn healthcare services in West Khasi Hills. The programme was attended by Minister Methodius Dkhar, MLA Gabriel Wahlang and MLA R.G. Momin.
During the occasion, the Chief Minister also laid the foundation stones for the Golden Jubilee Garden at Nongstoin, the new District Institute of Education and Training (DIET) building and the Sohpian–Nongstoin road. He also felicitated the land donor who contributed land for the construction of the hospital and handed over an ambulance donated by IDBI Bank under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to the Health Department.
Addressing the gathering, Sangma said the operationalisation of the MCH Hospital fulfilled a commitment made during the CM Connect programme, where residents had raised concerns over the long-pending healthcare facility. He described CM Connect as an initiative designed to ensure that grievances and concerns raised at the grassroots level reach the Chief Minister and the departments concerned for necessary action.
Sangma said the initiative had received recognition as a best practice, with the Prime Minister’s Office inviting him to present the programme to other chief ministers. “Governance comes with its own burden of complaints, pressure and demands, but that is precisely why we are here. We can’t afford to run away from it. We have to face it head-on,” he said.
The Chief Minister informed that senior Health Department officials had inspected the hospital in November 2025 following the CM Connect programme. Subsequently, requirements relating to staffing, medical equipment and essential supplies were finalised, paving the way for the facility to become operational. Constructed at a cost of Rs 31.05 crore, the hospital is equipped with an outpatient department, laboratory complex, emergency unit, labour room, intensive care unit, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and operation theatre complex.
A pressure swing adsorption (PSA) oxygen generation plant, costing Rs 37 lakh, has also been installed at the facility.
The hospital is expected to improve access to specialised maternal and neonatal healthcare in West Khasi Hills, where maternal and infant mortality rates have been among the highest in Meghalaya.
With obstetric and newborn care services now available at Nongstoin, high-risk pregnant women and critically ill newborns are expected to receive specialised treatment locally, reducing the need for routine referrals to Shillong.
A District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) has also been proposed at the hospital to facilitate early screening and treatment of developmental delays and disabilities among children.
The Chief Minister expressed appreciation to the private landowner who donated the land for the hospital and acknowledged IDBI Bank’s contribution of an ambulance, stressing that timely transportation could be crucial in saving the lives of mothers experiencing medical complications.
Highlighting infrastructure development, Sangma said the government was committed to ensuring that development extended beyond Shillong and Tura to all districts of Meghalaya. He informed that road projects converging on Nongstoin involved a combined investment of Rs 498.31 crore. These include the Rs 383.91-crore upgradation of the 35-km Maweit–Nongjri section of the Nongstoin–Maweit–Nongjri road, the Rs 63.01-crore Nongstoin–Maweit section under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF), the Rs 22.27-crore Sohpian–Nongstoin road and the Rs 29.12-crore Nongkhlaw–Byrki–Umdohlun road, including two bridges, under PMGSY-III.
The foundation stone for the Sohpian–Nongstoin road was laid during Thursday’s programme. Sangma directed the Public Works Department (PWD) and the contractor to maintain construction quality, including proper road shoulders, footpaths and drainage systems. He also instructed the Deputy Commissioner and the local MLA to closely monitor the projects and report any shortcomings directly to him.
As West Khasi Hills marks its 50th anniversary, the Chief Minister called for a comprehensive development roadmap for the district, with constituency-wise and district-wise targets for the next three, five and ten years. He also emphasised the need for a long-term 50-year vision to guide future development and inspire the younger generation.
Sangma said development projects worth nearly Rs 900 crore had been implemented across various sectors in West Khasi Hills over the past eight years. He also highlighted development initiatives in South West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills and East Jaintia Hills, including the sanctioning of the Rs 450-crore Sutnga–Saipung road project, which he said had remained unbuilt since Meghalaya attained statehood.
Urging government officials to remain dedicated to public service, Sangma reminded them of their responsibility towards the people. “Don’t take your position for granted. God has given you this opportunity. Ten seconds of your time can change somebody’s life. Be the change you want to see,” he said.
