By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 2: Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Tuesday said the government is holding negotiations with the landowners of the Nongur-Weilyngkut Primary Health Centre (PHC) in an effort to end the deadlock and restore health services for the area.
The PHC has remained locked since November 12 after the land-donor family alleged that the Health Department violated a 2017 written agreement promising employment to two of its members. The dispute escalated following the termination of Aidolin Jana, one of the employed family members.
The closure of the PHC which caters to 23 villages and serves dozens of patients daily—has severely disrupted healthcare access for residents.
“We are still trying to negotiate and resolve. I appeal to the landowners to understand that the land they donated has been a blessing for many adjoining villages benefiting from this PHC,” Shylla told reporters.
The Minister clarified that while agreements vary across Meghalaya, departmental guidelines must comply with provisions laid down by the Personnel department.
He explained that the Personnel department allows job reservation for only one member of a family donating land free of cost for a PHC or CHC. However, at Nongur Weilyngkut PHC, two members were appointed, violating these rules.
“When the regularisation exercise began, the department found two family members employed, which goes against the notification. Therefore, the service of one member had to be terminated,” Shylla said, adding that the decision was taken strictly as per the Personnel department’s directives.
He cautioned that violating these rules could create similar demands across the state. “Admittedly, the closure of this health centre has greatly affected the area. We are trying to resolve the issue since we have no personal conflict with the landowner,” he said.
Earlier, Kdtor Jana, representing the land-donor family, had accused the department of violating the 2017 agreement. “The department has breached the agreement made before the PHC was inaugurated. The position of chowkidar, earlier held by my sister, has been given to someone else,” he had said.
The family had vowed to keep the PHC locked until Aidolin Jana was reinstated. Aidolin had said she received her termination letter in June without explanation. “We gave our land with the understanding that two of us would be employed. The department has dishonoured that agreement. If they fail to respect the terms, we have every right to reclaim our land,” she asserted.
As negotiations continue, the affected villages remain without essential health services.
