Shillong: Meghalaya saw maternal mortality plummet by 55 percent. The government credits this shift to relentless monitoring and specific medical interventions. Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma addressed the Autumn Session on Tuesday, explaining how the state tracks expectant mothers through an online system. This seven-year effort helps staff flag high-risk pregnancies early.
Roughly 10 to 15 percent of pregnant women carry high risks at any point. These women receive extra nutrition and specialized care, often moving into safe-motherhood transit homes. Leader of Opposition Mukul Sangma pushed back during Question Hour, highlighting persistent gaps. He noted, "The health condition of pregnant women attending hospitals and community health centres" requires more focus on nutrition and anaemia.
Education also hit a major milestone. The Shillong Government Medical College launched its academic journey for the 2025-26 session. Fifty students currently make up the inaugural batch. Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla confirmed the government greenlit 179 new staff positions. This workforce includes 17 professors, 27 associate professors, 41 assistant professors, 40 senior residents, 22 junior residents, and 25 tutors.
Officials also filled critical administrative roles. The team now includes a Director, Dean, Medical Superintendent, Chief Administrative Officer, Clinical Psychologist, Statistician, and a Chief Accounts Officer-cum-Financial Advisor. Shylla assured the House that the campus follows the National Medical Commission’s Minimum Standard Requirements of 2023.
Updated at 26th August 2026 at 6:00pm
Health officials released specific death toll data during the Assembly session on August 26. The state recorded 106 maternal deaths in the 2025-26 fiscal year, a drop from 135 in the previous cycle. Historical figures show a consistent decline from 228 deaths in 2021-22. Infant mortality fell to 23 per thousand, while the neonatal mortality rate dipped to 10 and under-five deaths hit 27.
To combat these numbers, the government pushed the Chief Minister Safe Motherhood Scheme, sinking 18.17 crore into the program since 2022-23. Additional funding includes 89.45 crore from central schemes and 19.12 crore via the Janani Suraksha Yojana.
On the environmental front, the government admitted that Meghalaya lost 325 square kilometres of forest cover between 2009 and 2023. To fight the loss, officials proposed an 8.66 crore afforestation project covering over 3,000 hectares for the 2026-27 period, alongside a smaller avenue planting scheme.
Updated at 26th August 2026 at 9:50pm
Beyond the state budget, the government aims to bankroll these greening efforts using cash from the Meghalaya Environmental Protection and Restoration Fund, the Meghalaya Mining and Mineral Restoration Fund, and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority. Officials also tacked on a proposal for 20 kilometres of avenue planting with an estimated price tag of 1.09 crore.
Comments