Staff Reporter
Shillong:
Cabinet minister Ampareen Lyngdoh said on August 22 that she would share a five-year road map of the health and agriculture departments which are key to the state’s evelopment.
She told reporters that she has completed her tour to Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills, East Khasi Hills and will go to Ri Bhoi and meet the MLAs on August 23.
Lyngdoh stated that she has toured the state to understand the difficulties, challenges and the expectations of legislators as far as the provision of adequate health facilities is concerned. She said enough opportunities will be provided to citizens in the agriculture sector as a lucrative employment option.
“I will sit with all the information and plan a road map of what are the priorities of the department of health, agriculture in the coming five years,” she said.
Meanwhile, speaking on the review meeting with MLAs of East Khasi Hills on Monday (August 21), she said, “MLAs are participating actively and are very resourceful individuals and very often they will be a very important guide for a complete five-year plan on behalf of the government. So, we had a very fruitful interaction. We took many decisions that are going to be pro-people.”
She said that the meeting was a common platform for legislators, officials and the people on the ground.
It was the second meeting with the agriculture department where MLAs were apprised of various schemes, government plans and programmes, progress of various projects.
Lyngdoh said that MLAs are the best monitors of the facilities and it is better to take them on board and leave aside political affiliations in matters of health and agriculture.
The minister informed that the East Khasi Hills district has more Primary Health Centres (PHCs) than what is recommended by Indian standards.
She informed that there is shortage of health centres such as dispensaries, which are smaller versions of PHCs.
“We are also setting up sub-divisional hospitals. A pregnant woman from Ranikor ideally should not come all the way to Shillong for medical treatment vital for the safe delivery. So now we are also looking at Mawphlang being one of the first referral units (FRUs) for pregnant mothers. We will have a web of facilities so that we reduce the intake and wastage of funds by citizens,” Lyngdoh informed.
Lyngdoh also informed that the health centres now will be managed by communities which will be unique for the state.
She informed that during Covid-19, it was the community leaders who helped in containing the health hazards.
“We will utilise the system which is inherently there in the state, and we will allow community leaders to also help in ensuring quality health care is given to the citizens,” she added.