Hek asked to intervene
SHILLONG: The failure of the State Government to comply with the terms and conditions of the agreement signed with the land owner have prevented the Health and Family Welfare department to operationalise the Sub-Health Centre at Lad Mawreng whose building was completed about 20 years ago.
The land owner had refused to hand over the building since the Government has failed to provide a government job to one of the family member in accordance with the terms and conditions of agreement.
Concerned over this non-operation of the health centre, a joint delegation of the FJKGP and KSU Upper Shillong Unit on Tuesday met the Health Minister AL Hek on Tuesday demanding the immediate operationalizing of the sub centre from the building constructed by the department which is illegally being occupied by the land owner.
Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Hek along with FKJGP Upper Shillong circle president Kitboklang Nongphlang, said that thousands of people from at least eight villages has been affected due to the delay in making the health centre operational.
“We would want the state government to resolve the matter at the earliest,” he said, adding that it is clear case of waste of public money.
He also said that the problem was due to the misunderstanding between the department and the land owner who had donated the land for construction of the building.
Nongphlang said that the Government has failed to provide a job to a family member as per the agreement.“Till date this has not materalised,” Nongphlang said adding that in protest, the land owner in turn refused to allow the sub centre to function from the building.
According to him, due to this, in a span of 20 years, the sub-centre has to frequently change from one place to another, which in turn becomes a burden for villagers who are in need of emergency medical attention.
”We however feel that such dispute is not difficult to resolve and can come to an amicable understanding,” he said.
Nongphlang also added he was informed by the DM&HO in their meeting that the that reserved post for the land owner’s family is still lying vacant.
He, therefore, demanded the minister to immediately intervene and ensure that the sub-centre is fully functional before Christmas.
Meanwhile, the minister has assured to look into the matter by conducting a joint inspection to the village on December 9, Nongphlang said.