From Our Correspondent
SHILLONG, March 31: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Tuesday launched “Mission 1000 Days,” a programme aimed at improving nutrition and early childhood development outcomes.
The initiative is being implemented through multiple departments under the Meghalaya Human Development Council, in convergence with the Departments of Social Welfare, Health & Family Welfare, Community & Rural Development, Education, and Planning.
Sangma said the programme is part of a broader effort to address key human development challenges through a focused and evidence-based approach.
“When I took office in 2018, one of the first issues that deeply concerned me was the high maternal mortality rate (MMR) in Meghalaya. It troubled not only me but the entire team, and we resolved to do everything possible to bring it down,” he said.
He also said that targeted interventions and improved access to services contributed to a reduction in MMR. “Through sustained efforts over three years, we were able to significantly reduce it by nearly 50%,” the Chief Minister said.
Highlighting challenges in rural areas, he said many mothers are compelled to return to work shortly after childbirth due to financial constraints.
“Many mothers, due to extreme poverty, are forced to return to work within a month or two after childbirth. They do not want to leave their infants, but they have no choice,” he said, adding that the government is exploring support mechanisms.
Sangma spoke about efforts to strengthen anganwadi centres and emphasised the need for awareness on nutrition. “We must understand what to eat, when to eat, and how to eat. Every snack, every processed food item we consume has an impact on our health,” he said. He disclosed that Rs 127 crore has been earmarked to support mothers through financial and institutional assistance, nutrition support, training and awareness, and distribution of essential kits. Highlighting the role of families, he said fathers should actively participate in caregiving. “Spending 20-30 minutes a day with a child—talking, playing, simply being present—can significantly influence their development,” he said.
Addressing frontline workers, he said, “Do not treat this as a job or duty. Measure your success by the lives you improve—by every mother saved and every child given a healthier future.”
Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Sampath Kumar said the programme focuses on the first 1,000 days, noting that 75-80 per cent of brain development occurs by the age of two and that children achieve nearly half of their adult height during this period.
He said state assessments indicate that stunting often develops after birth due to gaps in nutrition and care. He highlighted concerns over increasing consumption of low-nutrient processed foods and emphasised the need for behaviour change and awareness among families.
During a technical session, Dr. Rupal highlighted child nutrition challenges in the state, including high levels of stunting among children under five and gaps in breastfeeding practices. She said exclusive breastfeeding declines by six months, with early introduction of complementary feeding.
She explained that breast milk is essential for brain development, immunity, and growth, and noted that improper feeding techniques can lead to inadequate nutrition.
The event included distribution of mother and baby kits, and dissemination of Chief Minister Headman Fellowship flyers.
