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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Meghalaya CM lays foundation of addl secretariat at Dakopgre in Tura
Shillong: CM Conrad K Sangma on Thursday laid the foundation for the additional secretariat complex, to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 156 crore at Dakopgre in Tura, fulfilling a long-felt aspiration of the people of the Garo Hills region of the state. Terming the project 'historic' for the people of the state and particularly the Garo Hills, he said, "…It is a day for each one of us to remember. The additional secretariat complex is not just a building but a testament to the fulfillment of the aspirations of our people". The additional secretariat will serve the people of the Garo Hills, who had to face a lot of problems to avail govt services, the CM said. It will have rooms for CM and his cabinet, chief secretary and other senior offices and also house offices of different govt departments.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Meghalaya CM Unveils Chitmang Chaiwat Glamping Project to Boost Eco-Tourism
Shillong: Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday inaugurated the Chitmang Chaiwat Glamping Project in South Garo Hills, underscoring the state's push for sustainable tourism and community-led development, reports Manosh Das. Named after his late father, former Lok Sabha speaker Purno Agitok Sangma, the eco-tourism project rejuvenates 21.48 hectares of land through conservation, water security, and infrastructure. Featuring traditional cabins and PVC dome tents, the initiative aims to boost local livelihoods and showcase Meghalaya's natural beauty.
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
CM inaugurates 125 community centres for sustainable livelihood in Meghalaya
Shillong: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma inaugurated 125 community centres across Garo Hills on Tuesday, funded under the Meghalaya Livelihood and Forest Ecosystem Management Project (MegLIFE). The centres were virtually inaugurated from Dobakol Awemong in Baghmara C&RD block of South Garo Hills district, where the CM was present for the event. Built at a cost of Rs 24 lakh each — Rs 13 lakh from the project and Rs 11 lakh from the state — the community centres aim to provide spaces for various community-led activities, including income-generating initiatives. "The MegLIFE project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), focuses on community-based forest management and livelihood enhancement in 500 villages across 12 districts of Meghalaya. Alongside constructing these centres, the project has supported several income-generating activities such as nurseries, plantations, minor irrigation check dams, dug-out ponds, plastic tanks, and RCC water storage tanks," an official statement said. IVCS and SHGs have been integral to the initiative, receiving direct benefits and playing key roles in its execution. Speaking at the event, the CM emphasised the project's core objectives — restoring degraded forests, strengthening natural resource management, and improving rural livelihoods. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jung, geflüchtet, voller Hoffnung Schweizerische Flüchlingshilfe Weiterlesen Undo "This project empowers communities to take ownership of forest, land, and water resources," he said. "We aim to foster a community-driven approach to sustainable livelihoods. Through MegLIFE, we are instilling environmental consciousness while ensuring sustained income through various activities," the CM added. The project targets the completion of 452 community centres across Meghalaya. Thanking JICA for its support, Sangma said an additional 150-plus centres would soon be completed in the Garo Hills region. Highlighting the role of these community hubs in fostering development and livelihood initiatives, the chief minister reiterated the project's focus on community empowerment and sustainability.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Meghalaya CM vows to transform state's healthcare, promises world-class services at first-ever health summit
Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday announced that the state government had taken on the challenge of completely transforming the health sector, aiming to provide world-class medical services within the state itself. He made the declaration while addressing the first-ever Health Summit held in Shillong. The Chief Minister said the health sector in the state had remained neglected for various reasons, but the current government had committed itself to making reforms across the system. "Our objective is that anybody who requires medical attention should not have to go outside the state. The health sector will be transformed in such a manner that citizens of the state, the region, and neighbouring countries will look to Meghalaya for their treatment. It is a big target, but we have set our goals and prepared ourselves for the task. It is a long journey--let us set our targets clearly, let us invest, and create an ecosystem. Health is not just the state government's responsibility; other stakeholders also play an important role," Sangma said. The summit was attended by State Health Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, senior officials, and representatives from various hospitals across the state. The Chief Minister emphasised the government's strong commitment to improving healthcare delivery, saying, "Health is one of the most critical pillars of governance, and for us in Meghalaya, it has remained at the top of our agenda." He highlighted that the summit was focused not just on investments but also on real outcomes. "This summit is not just about numbers but about outcomes--how investments translate into real improvements in the lives of our people," he said. He revealed that Meghalaya currently spends over 8% of its total state budget on healthcare, the highest allocation among Indian states. According to him, this was not just a statistic but proof of the state's priorities. Over the past seven years, the state had launched multiple initiatives to upgrade infrastructure, human resources, technology, and access to care. Sangma informed that when the present government took office in 2018, the state had a backlog of over 500 unfilled doctor posts. Due to prolonged recruitment delays, the government set up the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board (MMSRB) and filled over 500 posts within three months. During the summit, the Chief Minister and the Health Minister handed over appointment letters to 164 staff nurses, 78 Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), and 181 AYUSH professionals under the National AYUSH Mission. Sangma acknowledged that Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Civil Hospitals had previously been in poor condition, but the government had since made significant investments to rebuild and upgrade them. He also said the state had adopted digital transformation to improve delivery. "Digital transformation has been a key enabler. Benefits for ASHAs, previously delayed due to paperwork, are now processed and disbursed within a week through a digitized platform," he explained. The government had also streamlined real-time drug supply chains, enabling health centres to raise indents online and ensure continuous supply of essential medicines. "The entire system has been digitized. Today, we know exactly where delays happen and we can resolve issues swiftly," the Chief Minister added. Health Minister Dr. Ampareen Lyngdoh also addressed the gathering, stating, "This Health Summit marks a paradigm shift in how we approach healthcare--not just as a public service, but as a shared responsibility involving government, civil society, and the private sector." A roundtable discussion was held during the day, focusing on emerging technologies, tackling non-communicable diseases like cancer and diabetes, and bridging the urban-rural healthcare gap. A special focus was placed on data-driven public health planning and collaboration between public and not-for-profit healthcare institutions. The summit marked the beginning of what the state government described as a long-term vision to make Meghalaya a healthcare hub in the Northeast.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Meghalaya allocates 8% of budget to health, highest in country
Shillong: Meghalaya now allocates eight per cent of its total state budget to health — the highest in the country, an official statement said on Monday. "Since 2010, the state's health budget has grown nearly six-fold, from Rs 300 crore to Rs 1,700 crore in 2023. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Major investments have been made across Primary and Community Health Centres, sub-centres, and district hospitals — covering infrastructure, medical equipment, IT systems, storage, logistics, and real-time monitoring of supplies," the statement highlighted on occasion of the first Meghalaya Health Summit 2025 organised by the state department of health & family welfare, in collaboration with the National Health Mission, at the State Convention Centre here, which was chaired by CM Conrad K Sangma, and attended by senior officials, public health experts, and private healthcare stakeholders. During the summit, the CM distributed appointment letters to over 200 newly recruited nurses under the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board (MMSRB) and 115 staff under the National AYUSH Mission (NAM). Congratulating the recruits, the CM said, "This is more than just a job — it's a calling. Approach every patient with empathy; your compassion can transform lives". The CM also launched the Meghalaya State Antibiotic Policy 2025-2026. The CM mentioned that in 2018, facing a shortage of doctors, the govt recruited 500 doctors in just three months post-cabinet approval. "Our aim is clear — no resident should need to go outside Meghalaya for treatment. We're working to make our healthcare system a regional and international hub, while also inviting private sector partnerships to strengthen rural services," he said. Health minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh urged new recruits to serve where they're most needed and called on more youth to pursue nursing.
