Nongpoh, Nov 22: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Saturday inaugurated the newly constructed Caring for India (CFI) Centre at Nonglum, Umroi, in Ri-Bhoi district, describing it as an important platform that encourages leadership development, moral guidance and community transformation.
At an event attended by Umroi MLA Damanbait Lamare, Meghalaya Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) Chairman James K. Sangma and other dignitaries, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma praised the faith-based initiative and said that public service must be driven by the sole objective of serving people, a principle he said he inherited from his late father, former Union Minister P.A. Sangma.
Responding to CFI’s request for additional land to establish a nursing college, the chief minister assured immediate government support. “Let me assure you once again that the government will ensure the land required is given so that you can set up the infrastructure,” he said.
He highlighted Meghalaya’s success in facilitating overseas employment for nurses, revealing that 37 nurses have already been placed in Japan, nearly 30 in Singapore, and the first batch will soon depart for Germany. Another 2,000 nurses are currently in the pipeline.
“These nurses are remitting approximately ₹1 lakh per person per month to their families – that’s ₹4.8 crore annually from just 40 nurses,” the Chief Minister noted, crediting job fairs, language training and family-support programmes for the success of the programme. He urged CFI to integrate language training into its nursing curriculum and offered full government partnership.
Hailing the leadership retreat centre as “one of the greatest blessings” for the region and the country, the chief minister noted that it can create a nationwide network of trained Christian leaders. He called on CFI to keep the platform open and inclusive, beyond any single community or denomination.
Addressing CFI’s concerns about malnutrition and maternal-infant health, the Chief Minister said Meghalaya had the country’s highest maternal mortality rate (230 per lakh births) in 2018. Through the multi-sectoral MOTHER programme, the state has reduced it by 50 per cent and is on track to fall below the national average. Several states are now adopting the Meghalaya model, which will soon be presented at the national level.
Umroi MLA Damanbait Lamare thanked the CFI Trust for its vision and generosity, and praised the people of Nonglum village for their unity and cooperation in making the project possible.
CFI leader Dr Shaji Thomas recounted the organisation’s 27-year journey that began with a chance encounter with a child labourer on a train, eventually leading to the transformation of unused land in Nonglum into a leadership centre.
The programme began with a welcome address by CFI board member P.J. Matthew and featured cultural performances by students, which the Chief Minister described as a “wonderful showcase of the true culture and diversity of Northeast India”.
Concluding his speech, Mr Sangma reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partner with CFI: “We will work closely with you to take your mission forward, which is also our mission.”
