CM Conrad K Sangma charts roadmap for healthcare, sports, and water in Tura review

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 28, 2025

Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on August 28 chaired a high-level review meeting at the Circuit House in Tura, West Garo Hills, focusing on three critical pillars of Meghalaya’s development—healthcare, sports, and water supply.

Unlike routine progress checks, the meeting was designed as an open forum where officials could share challenges freely and explore solutions. Sangma stressed that such reviews must go beyond status reports and serve as problem-solving platforms to drive timely, impactful outcomes.

Healthcare: Meghalaya’s path to medical self-reliance

At the heart of the discussions was the Tura Medical College, now 78 percent complete and set to be ready by September 2026. Spread across 84 acres, the college will house 47,000 sq. m. of academic and administrative facilities and a 735-bed teaching hospital. Road safety realignment and faculty recruitment, however, remain pressing hurdles.

Shillong Medical College is also gearing up to admit its first batch by September 2025. Sangma projected that by the mid-2030s, with Shillong, Tura, and USTM medical colleges producing over 550 doctors annually, Meghalaya will no longer depend heavily on central pool seats. “This will transform our healthcare system,” he said, framing the development as a generational investment in medical self-reliance.

Sports: building from the village up

The review spotlighted grassroots sports as a foundation for Meghalaya’s future athletes. Sangma called for basic facilities at village and block levels, stronger engagement of local clubs, and the creation of district and state tournaments. Chess and athletics were highlighted as disciplines with untapped potential.

To address the shortage of qualified coaches and referees, the CM proposed capacity-building programs, training of local officials, and involving retired athletes as mentors. He directed district administrations to take a more hands-on role in executing sports initiatives, underscoring the dual goal of nurturing talent while ensuring sustainability in infrastructure planning.

Jal Jeevan Mission: from targets to realities

While reports showed a 90 percent completion rate for the Jal Jeevan Mission, the Chief Minister acknowledged that nearly one in five households still struggles for reliable water. He called for a state-wide audit to distinguish functional schemes from those failing on the ground.

Technical flaws—such as undersized pipes, inadequate water sources, outdated DPRs, and poorly executed contracts—were cited as key reasons for underperformance. Power shortages in hilly areas and weak solar systems in the plains further strain supply.

Financial bottlenecks were another challenge, with Rs 2,000 crore pending payment to contractors due to fund delays from the Centre. Sangma stressed that maintaining VWSCs at an annual cost of Rs 500 crore was unrealistic, suggesting cluster-based management, self-help group involvement, and maintenance contracts that make contractors responsible for schemes for 2–3 years post-completion.

Beyond reviews: A vision for accountability and sustainability

The Chief Minister reminded officials that “issues must be raised openly” and urged them to prepare roadmaps that balance grassroots promotion with long-term sustainability. He reiterated that platforms like CM Connect will remain vital bridges between the government and citizens, ensuring that feedback from the field shapes state policy.

The Tura review, therefore, was not just about monitoring projects, but about reshaping Meghalaya’s development priorities—towards medical independence, a sporting culture built from the villages, and water systems that last beyond targets.