This was possible due to the efforts of late Jeevan Ram Goenka son of Ganesh Das Goenka who came forward to the cause donating his land and money towards the establishment of the hospital.

77 years later, to honour the contributions of one of the oldest families of the region a bust of (L) G D Goenka was unveiled on March 28th 20122 at  the Ganesh Das Hospital at Lawmali, Shillong.  The hospital starting from a humble beginning of 32 beds today has around 330 beds with a minimum of twenty five to thirty baby deliveries taking place every day. The Deputy Chief Minister of Meghalaya Mr. Rowell Lyngdoh who is also in charge of Heath, while unveiling the bust, said “The family has contributed immensely to the establishment of the hospital during an age of plenty amid poverty.” He also said that the family had a “golden heart”. He also informed that the Ganesh Das Hospital is still one of the most prestigious hospitals of the state as well as that of the region and amongst the top ranking hospitals in the country.

Also present at the occasion the grandson of (L) G D Goenka Shankar Lal Goenka narrated the story how upon the British’s search for a donor for the hospital, this was taken up by his grandfather and that is the reason for them to name the hospital as Ganesh Das hospital. An interesting piece of trivia is that Mr. Shankar Goenka was born on the 3rd of December 1935, the day the construction work of the hospital was completed and named after his grandfather.

Also present at the occasion were members of the Goenka family who as a continued pledge to serve the people of the state donated an ambulance van to the hospital. The national Rural Health Mission (NRHM) also donated ambulances to be delivered to all the districts of the state.
 

EP Desk.