By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 1: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Saturday said that the Meghalaya government is aiming to place 5,000 nurses in overseas jobs by 2032, while adding that remittances to the state could reach nearly Rs 600 crore annually once the target is achieved.
Conrad informed that the state government has launched a programme to train and place nurses in foreign countries, particularly in Japan and Singapore.
According to Conrad, 29 nurses from Meghalaya are currently working in Japan, while 10 have been placed in Singapore. He said each nurse is remitting approximately Rs 1 lakh per month to their families, contributing to an estimated annual inflow of about Rs 4.68 crore into the state’s economy.
He added that additional batches of nurses are undergoing language training in Japanese and German, with support from international institutions and embassies to improve global placement opportunities.
Meanwhile, Conrad said the government has taken significant steps to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across the state while simultaneously creating overseas employment opportunities for nurses.
Highlighting progress made over the past eight years, he informed that 51 health centres have been newly constructed and 544 healthcare facilities upgraded. In addition, 770 new hospital beds have been added to enhance medical services.
The chief minister stated that 479 doctors and specialists have been recruited through the Meghalaya Medical Services Recruitment Board, while 76 doctors have undergone specialist training to improve healthcare delivery.
He further noted that 6,700 village health councils have been activated to strengthen grassroots-level health services.
Referring to maternal healthcare initiatives, Sangma said the Safe Motherhood programme has contributed to saving lives across the state, though he acknowledged that further improvements are still required.
Sangma emphasised that the combined focus on healthcare infrastructure and international placement programmes will strengthen both the state’s medical ecosystem and economic opportunities for its youths.
