KSU urges Ampareen to ensure upgrade of health facilities in SWKH

The Khasi Student Union (KSU) South West Khasi Hills District met the minister in charge of health department Ampareen Lyngdoh to follow up with regard to the up-gradation of various health centres in the district including the 100 bedded CHC in Mawkyrwat.

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Speaking to media persons, president of the KSU SWKHD Forwardman Nongrem claim that the health centres in South West Khasi Hills and Mawsynram C&RD Block of East Khasi Hills District still lack behind hence the union has asked the minister in charge to look into the matter for the benefits of the people of these two regions.

Nongrem informed that when it comes to the 100 bedded CHC in Mawkyrwat, though the CHC was open in December 2022 yet the health centre still lacks basic health services like radiology, surgeons, Intensive Care Unit, Operation Theater Department and ambulances for the patients.

He added that the 100 bedded CHC in Mawkyrwat still lacks manpower which includes in Grade IV, manpower in the Outpatient Department, Staff Nurses and Assistant, security, and other non-medical staff.

The KSU president also informed that the union has asked the minister in charge of health to set up the office of the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) in South West Khasi Hills in order to look into providing health services to the people.

“It has been more than ten years for the South West Khasi Hills District to be recognized as one of the districts in Meghalaya yet till date the district has not had DMHO headquarter to facilitate the doctors and nurses in the region” said Nongrem.

He added that the KSU has urged the minister in charge of health to set up a new Health Sub Centre in Mawhiang, Mawthong and Jyllep village and also to upgrade the Dangar PHC to CHC in order to provide quality health services to the people residing in those areas.

“The meeting with the minister in charge of health was successful as we were informed that the minister will look into all these demands and will get back to the union after two weeks after discussing with the department” he added.

On the other hand, the KSU also urged the minister in charge to provide basic requirements at Wahkaji and Mawsynram CHC like Pharmacist and Ambulances” he added.

Cheristerfield Thangkiew’s death: Govt to first study explanation by Tactical Team – I

Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Home (Police) Prestone Tynsong today said the government will decide on the action after going through the explanation submitted by the Tactical Team-I, which had conducted the operation at the residence of former HNLC leader (L) Cheristerfield Thangkhiew which led to his death on August 13, 2021.

“Let the process start. Right now the department has just received the explanation (submitted by Tactical Team-I). We will go through all of it. Once that is done we will see what action will be taken,” Tynsong told reporters.

The explanation was sought by the state government after the report of the One Man Commission of Inquiry headed by Justice T Vaiphei was tabled in the Assembly’s autumn session held last year.

The report stated that the operation was well planned but poorly executed since the team was supposed to capture (L) Thangkhiew alive.

Justice T Vaiphei in his report had stated: “Therefore, my finding is that the Tactical Team-I in carrying out the operation to arrest the deceased at his residence on August 13, 2021 at about 3 AM was culpable of thoughtless and excessive use of force, which resulted in the death of the deceased, late Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, which turned out to be avoidable,” Justice Vaiphei said in his report.

“In my considered view, the post facto excuse that none but the deceased was hurt cannot be a valid justification for carrying out the operation hastily and in a reckless manner by the Tactical Team-I,” he added.

The report had said the common thread of evidence running through the statements of these state witnesses is that the objective of the operation was professed to be simply to capture the deceased alive and not to shoot at him.

That was the decision taken in the tactical meeting held prior to the operation.

“In my considered view, the operation was a well-plan, but executed poorly, recklessly, hastily and without proper application of mind,” Justice Vaiphei had said adding “In order words, it was a botched-up operation and failing in its objective of apprehending the deceased alive, who would have given valuable information to the police about the subversive activities of the proscribed HNLC outfit.”