Shillong, Oct 16: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today formally declared operational the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Hospital, Nongstoin in presence of Minister Methodius Dkhar, MLA Gabriel Wahlang and MLA R.G. Momin.
On the occasion, he felicitated the donor of the land on which the MCH Hospital has been constructed, laid the foundation stone of the Golden Jubilee Garden at Nongstoin, laid the foundation stone of the new DIET building and laid the foundation stone of the Sohpian–Nongstoin road. He also handed over an ambulance donated by IDBI Bank under CSR to the Health Department.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said Nongstoin’s MCH was a commitment made during the CM Connect programme, where citizens flagged it as a long-pending pain point.
The Chief Minister said CM Connect is his effort to ensure that issues from the grassroots reach the Chief Minister’s ears and then to all departments.
“I consider it maybe one of the best forms of democracy that we can have. This was taken up as a best practice where the Hon’ble Prime Minister and PMO asked me to present CM Connect to the rest of Chief Ministers of India,” he said.
He said 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 after the CM Connect flag-off, senior officials of Health Department reviewed works on site in November 2025 and finalised staffing, equipment and supplies, leading to today’s operationalisation. The Maternity and Child Health Hospital at Nongstoin was built at a cost of Rs. 31.05 crore.
The hospital has an OPD and laboratory complex, emergency unit, labour room, ICU, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and operation theatre complex. A PSA oxygen generation plant has been installed at a cost of Rs. 0.37 crore.
It was prioritised because maternal and infant mortality in West Khasi Hills has been among the highest in the State. Specialist obstetric and newborn care at Nongstoin will now remove the need to transfer high-risk mothers and sick newborns to Shillong.
A District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) has been proposed at the hospital for screening and early treatment of developmental delays and disabilities in children.
The land on which the hospital stands was donated by a private landowner, who was felicitated today. The ambulance handed over today by IDBI Bank will add to referral transport, which decides whether a mother with complications reaches hospital in time.
Stating that overall development cannot be limited to Shillong and Tura, he said, the largest single investment is the Rs. 383.91 crore upgradation of 35-km Maweit–Nongjri section of Nongstoin–Maweit–Nongjri road, which links Nongstoin to Ranikor in South West Khasi Hills.
Together, road investments converging on Nongstoin amount to Rs. 498.31 crore: Nongstoin–Nongjri road – Rs. 383.91 crore, Nongstoin–Maweit section under RIDF – Rs. 63.01 crore, Sohpian–Nongstoin road – Rs. 22.27 crore (foundation laid today), Nongkhlaw–Byrki–Umdohlun road with two bridges under PMGSY-III – Rs. 29.12 crore
He also directed PWD and contractor to maintain quality with proper shoulders, footpaths and drains. He asked DC and MLA to monitor works and report issues directly to him.
As West Khasi Hills celebrates 50 years, the Chief Minister said next few years should be defining period. He called for constituency-wise and district-wise goals – 3 years, 5 years, 10 years and 50 years vision to allow youth to connect.
He said close to Rs. 900 crore worth projects implemented in West Khasi Hills alone in last 8 years across all sectors, same as being done in South West Khasi Hills, South Garo Hills and East Jaintia Hills. He cited example of Rs. 450 crore Sutnga-Saipung road sanctioned – never built since statehood.
“Don’t take your position for granted. God has given you this opportunity. 10 seconds of your time can change somebody’s life. Be the change you want to see,” he told officials and team.
