Shillong, May 14: A high-level delegation from UNICEF today called on Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma at the State Guest House, Taraghar, in Shillong to review ongoing collaborations in child health, nutrition, maternal care, immunization, adolescent development, and community-led social interventions in the State.
During the meeting, the UNICEF delegation shared observations from its two-day visit across Meghalaya, including field interactions with frontline health workers, mothers’ groups, village health councils, district officials, and youth leaders.
The delegation expressed appreciation for the State Government’s grassroots and community-driven interventions aimed at improving immunization coverage, reducing maternal mortality, strengthening nutrition outcomes, and advancing youth participation.
A senior UNICEF official described Meghalaya as a State demonstrating strong leadership in child-focused human development. The official observed that Meghalaya’s community-based governance model, combined with government leadership and institutional partnerships, is creating measurable impact at the grassroots.
The UNICEF delegation also highlighted the State’s integrated approach to maternal and child health, nutrition, and early childhood development, noting that Meghalaya is moving towards a “003 Agenda”—zero maternal deaths, zero unimmunized children, and ensuring that every child achieves healthy physical growth during the first 1,000 days of life, thereby preventing stunting and enabling children to reach their full developmental potential.
During the interaction, the State’s ongoing efforts under Mission 1000 Days were discussed in detail. The programme, launched on March 31 this year, seeks to tackle child stunting, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and strengthen interventions during the critical first 1,000 days of life.
The delegation also appreciated Meghalaya’s investments in adolescent development and youth engagement. UNICEF representatives particularly noted the creation of the Young People’s Action Group, describing it as a meaningful platform through which young people can directly contribute to policy discussions and development priorities.
They observed that the State’s willingness to institutionalize youth participation reflects a progressive governance model that could serve as an example for others.
Speaking during the meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said that Meghalaya’s development strategy is centered on human development and building long-term institutional systems rather than isolated scheme-based interventions.
He noted that the State has consciously adopted an integrated approach, bringing together multiple departments, programmes, and stakeholders to address the life-cycle needs of citizens—from early childhood to adolescence and beyond.
The Chief Minister highlighted that over the last eight years, Meghalaya has made significant progress in addressing key developmental challenges such as maternal mortality, infant mortality, immunization gaps, malnutrition, and adolescent development through innovative, data-driven, and community-led interventions.
He emphasized the importance of documentation, evidence-based policymaking, and digital monitoring systems in ensuring measurable outcomes, adding that Meghalaya is building a development model that can potentially serve as a reference for other states facing similar challenges.
The Chief Minister invited UNICEF to continue supporting the State through technical expertise, documentation of best practices, knowledge exchange, and partnerships with development institutions and CSR stakeholders to further scale successful interventions.
UNICEF reaffirmed its commitment to continue partnering with the Government of Meghalaya in strengthening maternal and child health systems, nutrition interventions, disability inclusion, adolescent empowerment, and community-led development initiatives.
