Mawsynram MLA Himalaya Shangpliang has lamented that the state government has not heeded pleas for the creation of a Public Health Centre (PHC) at Saw Symper, Mawsynram.
“The demand for a PHC at Saw Symper has been made for the past many years but, to date, this demand has been totally ignored,” he told some reporters yesterday.
Even Health and Family Welfare Minister AL Hek assured the Assembly that a PHC would be set up in Saw Symper, but the government has yet to deliver on its promises, he said.
Another need in the area are banking facilities.
“We have spoken about it many times in the Assembly for the need to set up banks in rural areas but to no avail. People from rural areas have to come to the urban areas in the absence of banks, which has been a great hardship, especially in this (Covid-19) pandemic.”
Stating that the government has also turned a blind eye to the demand for banks at Dangar, Mawsysram, he said, “The rural population cannot withdraw the funds from various central schemes from their account because there are no banks and ATMs.”
Outside of his own district, he pointed to the plight of North Garo Hills, where he said there is just one State Bank of India branch in the whole of the district headquarters of Resubelpara.
Stating that MLA are answerable to the people and have to report to them, Shangpliang said, “We have another two years before the next election and I want the MDA government to listen and address the hardships and needs of the people.”