KSU slams MLAs

SHILLONG, JULY 20: The Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) has slammed the former deputy chief minister Rowel Lyngdoh and cabinet minister Martin M Danggo for the pathetic state of the health scenario in South West Khasi Hills District.

Lyngdoh and Danggo – both Congress MLAs – are representing Mawkyrwat and Ranikor constituencies under the district.

The criticism against the insensitive attitude of the two public representatives came after a delegation of the KSU-SWKHD met the Minister in-charge Health Roshan Warjri here on Thursday.

They have sought her immediate intervention into the problems faced by the people of the district due to delay in restoration of Wahkaji PHC, construction of a 100 beded CHC at Mawkyrwat, shortage of staff in Ranikor CHC and others

“We condemned these legislators for the poor health scenario in the district. It is high time that they should not only be good in fooling the people during election time but to take steps in addressing the issue concerning the people,” KSU-SWKHD president Forwardman Nongrem told reporters after the meeting.

Earlier during the meeting, the state government has assured the delegation that the primary health centre at Wahkaji area will be made functional within this year.

“She (Warjri) assured us that the PHC will be made functional within this year. According to her, the department had already sanctioned staffs for the PHC and now the renovation of the building will be taken up,” Nongrem said.

He informed that the PHC, which is supposed to cater to the medical needs of people from around 40 villages, has been lying in a dilapidated condition for more than 15 years.

This was following its handover to the state government by the Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) on its evacuation of the Wahkaji-Mawthabah area, which is rich in uranium deposit, he added.

On the demand to speed up the construction of the Mawkyrwat PHC, Nongrem said that the minister informed that the delay was due to revision in the estimate cost for the construction of the building and assured to place it as a top priority.

With regards to the problems faced by the Ranikor CHC which covers not less than 60 villages, the KSU leader said that apart from shortage of manpower, they have also proposed the need for sanctioning of one additional ambulance.

KSU Ranikor president Marcony Thongni said that this is in view of the network problem as they have to contact to Shillong to get the service of the 108 ambulance during emergency.

Meanwhile, the delegation has also demanded the upgradation of the Nonghyllam sub-centre to a primary health centre to reduce the inconveniences of the people from far flung villages to travel till Ranikor to get medical help.