Shillong, July 2: Nearly three years after students of Pine Mount School shared their struggles over a dilapidated hostel, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Wednesday returned to the campus to inaugurate a new hostel, fulfilling a promise he made during his visit to the school in 2022.
It gives me great satisfaction to be back at Pine Mount School today to inaugurate the new Boarding Building, dedicated to the boarders and students of this esteemed institution.
In 2022, after receiving complaints from students about the dilapidated hostel and poor living… pic.twitter.com/aAGwpruuIC
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) July 2, 2026
The new facility replaces the decades-old hostel that had been plagued by leaking roofs, damaged flooring and unsafe living conditions, concerns that had directly impacted the wellbeing and studies of resident students.
Recalling his interaction with the students in October 2022, Sangma said he had witnessed their difficulties firsthand and had then promised to improve their living conditions.
“When I had visited the school in 2022, I had a dialogue with the students and understood their struggles firsthand. The condition of the hostel was quite inconvenient and it even impacted their overall wellbeing and learning,” the Chief Minister said.
He said he was delighted to meet some of the same students on Wednesday as they settled into their new accommodation.
“It shows that sometimes a simple conversation can indeed result in great change. I am glad that our conversation back in 2022 has resulted in new beginnings for these young students,” he added.
The newly constructed hostel is equipped with improved facilities and is expected to provide students with a safer and more comfortable living environment.
During the programme, Sangma also launched ‘She Thrives’, a sanitary pad vending machine initiative aimed at promoting menstrual hygiene and supporting adolescent girls. He said the initiative would be expanded to schools across the state.
“This is not simply about dispensing sanitary pads; it’s about changing mindsets and creating an environment where our young girls can feel confident, empowered and not constrained by obstacles that are solvable,” he said.
Addressing students, the Chief Minister also spoke candidly about employment, acknowledging that the government alone cannot provide jobs to every young person entering the workforce. He encouraged students to explore entrepreneurship, innovation and opportunities in the private sector.
He said the government was investing in sectors such as tourism, information technology, agriculture and food processing to create new avenues of employment and economic growth.
“It is important to recognise opportunities around you, understand the problems in our societies and contribute to finding solutions. This is what leads to genuine progress,” he said.
Reiterating that education remains one of the state’s highest priorities, Sangma said meaningful development begins with investing in people and responding to their needs.
“Change may take time, but the most crucial thing is that we take action as and when we see a need. Every small step we take adds up and, when we listen, respond and work consistently, we will see significant transformation,” he added.
