Mukul concerned over high maternal, infant mortality rates

SHILLONG: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma has expressed concern over the high incidence of maternal and infant mortality rates in the State.
Speaking at the inauguration of a police station at Mawngap, East Khasi Hills on Wednesday, Sangma said the high mortality rates would depict Meghalaya as a backward state to an outsider.
“These indicators (high mortality rates) are crucial. We may have good roads and hospitals but if we still have our mothers dying while giving birth or babies yet to complete first year of their life, then the world will think we live in the most backward state,” the chief minister said adding that it is a great challenge that needs to be tackled.
The chief minister also informed that a Science and Commerce college will soon come up at Mawphlang.
“Very soon, we will lay the foundation stone for the College of Science and Commerce in Mawphlang besides in South Garo Hills,” Sangma said.
“The idea is to create this kind of institutions (across the State) so that everybody is not compelled to go to the district headquarters or state capital and choke the roads and make our cities and towns unlivable,” he added.