Shillong, Sep 10: Two organisations from Rongara in South Garo Hills have sought state government action on health, trade and governance issues in the border region.
The Garo Hills Youth Solidarity (GHYS), Rongara Unit, in a memorandum to Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, has demanded opening of an international border haat at Rongara to facilitate cross-border trade with Bangladesh and improve livelihoods. It has also sought a Lokayukta Bench in Garo Hills with video-conferencing facility to Shillong so people from remote areas can seek justice without travelling to the capital.
The group further demanded creation of a Civil Sub-Division at Rongara to make administration accessible for people between Rongara and Baghmara, and safety measures on the Rongara-Baghmara highway, including protective walls and wildlife underpasses to prevent human-wildlife conflict.
GHYS president Barthazar G. Momin said the demands aim at economic development, accessible governance and protection of lives and wildlife.
Separately, the Garo Students Union (GSU), Rongara Unit, has sought upgradation of Rongara PHC into a 30-bedded Community Health Centre. In its representation, the union said the PHC, one of the oldest in South Garo Hills, serves over 35,000 to 40,000 people from 35 villages including Rongara, Alokpang, Rongcheng, Kanai, Rangasora and Maheshkola, and is the only health facility within 35-45 km along the Bangladesh border.
The PHC, it said, functions with only one to two doctors and 10 beds against an OPD load of 80-100 patients daily, with no OT, blood storage, USG, X-ray or specialists. This forces referral of pregnant women and emergency cases to Baghmara Civil Hospital 35 km away, often on poor roads, leading to loss of lives during monsoon.
Citing IPHS norms for hilly and tribal areas, the GSU said Rongara qualifies for a CHC with four specialists, labour room, OT, lab and 24×7 emergency services, which would also reduce pressure on Baghmara hospital.
