Shillong, Oct 15: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today formally declared operational the Rs 31.05 crore Maternal and Child Health Hospital and inaugurated the new building of Synod College in Nongstoiñ.
He also felicitated the land donor for MCH hospital, laid foundation for Golden Jubilee Garden, new DIET building and Sohpian-Nongstoin road (Rs 22.27 crore), and handed over an ambulance donated by IDBI Bank.
Speaking at MCH inauguration in presence of Minister Methodius Dkhar and MLAs Gabriel Wahlang and RG Momin, Sangma said Nongstoiñ MCH was a commitment made during CM Connect where citizens flagged it as a long-pending pain point.
“I consider it maybe one of the best forms of democracy… PMO asked me to present CM Connect to the rest of Chief Ministers,” he said.
He said senior officials reviewed works in November 2025 and finalised staffing. The hospital has OPD, lab, emergency, labour room, ICU, NICU, OT and Rs 37 lakh PSA oxygen plant. A District Early Intervention Centre for children has been proposed.
Sangma said West Khasi Hills has high maternal and infant mortality and specialist care will cut referrals to Shillong.
On the overall push, he said the largest single investment is Rs 383.91 crore Maweit-Nongjri road linking Nongstoiñ to Ranikor, with total road investments converging on Nongstoiñ at Rs 498.31 crore.
“Overall development cannot be limited to Shillong and Tura… close to Rs 900 crore worth projects in West Khasi Hills alone in the last 8 years,” he said.
“Don’t take your position for granted. 10 seconds of your time can change somebody’s life. Be the change you want to see,” he told officials.
Later, inaugurating the Synod College building, library and smart classrooms, Sangma said education gets the highest budget – Rs 3500 crore of Rs 30,000 crore annual budget.
“The question is not lack of money. The question is how you spend it and what is the impact,” he said.
He said 14,000 schools rationalized to 11,500 and 10 higher technical institutes added in 8 years including Engineering College, Captain Williamson Sangma University, Medical College etc. Scholarship release touched Rs 400 crore in the last 12 months – Rs 100 crore before Christmas 2025, Rs 100 crore on August 27, 2026 and Rs 104 crore on October 13, 2026.
“Education is like a tangled headphone wire. If you pull too hard, the knot gets stronger. You have to patiently untangle one knot at a time,” he said.
