SHILLONG, FEB 24: The Meghalaya cabinet has approved the Indian Institute of Public Health Shillong (IIPHS) Bill 2026, paving the way for the institution to be granted state university status.

Announcing this after the meeting chaired by chief minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla said, “This will be a kind of important institution for the whole North East, it can really build the public health cadre not just for the state but for the whole North East.”

The IIPHS, the only public health institute in the region, will be able to award degrees to public health scholars with university status.

The minister highlighted the institute’s contributions to research, training and data-driven healthcare interventions, citing its work on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training, vaccine hesitancy and behavioural healthcare.

“It’s more of a research University…we can really guide the healthcare functionally, we can take public health actions,” he said.

Shylla said the university will function on a self-sustaining basis and support the state government in building a workforce to respond to healthcare situations like COVID-19.

The move was also prompted by the need for research-focused institutions, especially after the passing of former MP Dr Ricky AJ Syngkon.

“We need people who do research…in epidemiology and other diseases,” Shylla added.

Meanwhile, the state cabinet has also approved several key projects and policy changes, including a 30-year lease extension for Orange Root restaurant in Sohra and a promotion policy for Anganwadi workers.

Shylla announced the approvals, which include restructuring lease rental payments on a PPP model for Orange Root and NOC for furnishing and maintenance of Eco Resort Nongkhlaw’s expanded infrastructure.

The cabinet also greenlit the Meghalaya State Policy for promotion of Anganwadi workers to supervisors.

The details on the policy’s implementation and benefits however were not disclosed.

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