By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Feb 20: In a move that aims to improve early childhood development (ECD), Meghalaya has partnered with the Van Leer Foundation (VLF), a globally recognised organisation based in the Netherlands. With nearly half (49 per cent) of Meghalaya’s population under the age of 19, the state has positioned ECD as a cornerstone of its governance and economic growth strategy. This collaboration aims to enhance the care, nutrition, early learning, and overall well-being of young children across the state, ensuring they have a strong foundation for the future.
The partnership was formalised with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Committee Room II, Secretariat, Shillong, between Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Sampath Kumar, and Rushda Majeed, Chief Programme Officer of the Van Leer Foundation. The MoU is designed to integrate child-centric interventions into the state’s governance framework, bringing in global expertise and best practices to improve early childhood outcomes.
With decades of experience in ECD, the Van Leer Foundation will set up a Technical Support Unit (TSU) for the ECD Mission. The foundation will introduce successful models from other states and countries, pilot-test them in Meghalaya, and adapt them to local needs before scaling them across the state.
Additionally, the Van Leer Foundation will support documentation efforts, capturing successful ECD innovations under the Meghalaya mission and creating a replicable model that can serve as a lighthouse for early childhood programs across India.
As part of their collaboration, the Van Leer Foundation team conducted field visits in Ri Bhoi district to observe how ECD interventions are working at the grassroots level. They interacted with Village Health Council members, caregivers, frontline workers, and community stakeholders at the Rongphartong Anganwadi Centre in Umling Block.
The team also visited Umrandairy Community Hall in Umsning Block, where they observed Village Health and Nutrition Day (VHND) sessions. These sessions integrate ECD principles into maternal health programs, ensuring that both mothers and young children receive the necessary health, nutrition, and developmental support.
One of the key outcomes of this partnership will be the establishment of the Centre for Developing Child-Meghalaya, a centre of excellence dedicated to early childhood research, innovation, and documentation. The foundation will provide technical expertise in shaping this centre, ensuring it serves as a model for other states looking to strengthen their ECD frameworks.
Speaking at the event, Principal Secretary and Development Commissioner Sampath Kumar said that Meghalaya’s ECD Mission is India’s first state-led initiative dedicated to investing in early childhood through a comprehensive human development strategy.
Further, a detailed presentation by Ronald Kynta, COO of the Meghalaya ECD Mission, highlighted the long-term goals and impact of the initiative. He pointed out that Meghalaya is a “Children’s State,” with 49% of its population under 19 years.
The state has adopted a multi-sectoral, convergent approach, integrating ECD into the mandates of key departments such as Health, Education, Social Welfare, and Community & Rural Development. The initiative is guided by Meghalaya’s unique “Life-Cycle Approach to Human Development,” which identifies early childhood and adolescence as two crucial periods for intervention.