Deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh with Shankar Lal Goenka after unveiling the bust of Ganesh Das Goenka in Shillong on Monday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, March 26: It’s better late than never. It took nearly 77 years to honour a family, which had contributed to the establishment of one of the first maternity and child hospitals in the region.

The Goenkas, an eminent business family of the city whose relationship with this part of the world dates back to several years, was today honoured with the unveiling of the bust of late Ganesh Das Goenka at Ganesh Das Hospital, dedicated to maternity and child healthcare, at Lawmali overlooking the Polo grounds.

After unveiling the bust, deputy chief minister Rowell Lyngdoh acknowledged the family with a “golden heart” for their immense contribution to the establishment of the hospital during “an age of plenty amid poverty”.

The foundation stone of the 32-bed hospital was laid by Lady Keane, the then wife of the governor of composite Assam, in 1933. It was completed in 1935.

Ganesh Das Goenka’s son, late Jeevan Ram Goenka, was the biggest donor in terms of land and money towards the establishment of the hospital. “For this, the British administration deemed it fit to name this hospital after my grandfather,” Jeevan Ram’s son Shankar Lal Goenka said at the function.

“On December 3, 1935, the day I was born, this hospital was named after my grandfather, late Ganesh Das Goenka. The Goenka part was left out by the then British administrators because it would have been too lengthy a name. The name Ganesh Das stuck on,” he said.

Not many people in the state are aware that the hospital was named after one of the Goenkas of Shillong. Shankar Lal said it must have been a great foresight on part of the administrators then to think of a maternity hospital. “The lack of healthcare facilities in this part of the country must have struck them,” he added.

Since 1935, the hospital has come a long way — from 32 beds to around 330 today. On an average, 25-30 deliveries take place here everyday. With the improvement in facilities, expectant mothers at times have a tough time getting accommodation in the hospital.

Lyngdoh, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolio, said the prestigious hospital would be further expanded to provide better services to mothers and children. He urged doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of the hospital to use the infrastructure provided and to serve with dedication.

The Goenkas donated an ambulance to the hospital while Lyngdoh released some ambulances from the National Rural Health Mission to be delivered to all the districts.