SHILLONG, June 22: The Meghalaya Early Childhood Development (ECD) Mission has been conferred the prestigious Gold SKOCH Award in the category of ECD at the 108th SKOCH Summit Public Policy Forum on Regulatory Framework for Viksit Bharat.
The event was held at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi.
The award recognised Meghalaya’s pioneering efforts in building a comprehensive and collaborative model for ECD, positioning the state among India’s leading innovators in social development and governance.
The recognition followed a rigorous national-level evaluation process that began in March this year and included project presentations, public voting, expert assessments, documentation reviews, and impact evaluations.
Led by the Department of Social Welfare, the Meghalaya ECD Mission brought together multiple stakeholders, including Health, Education, and Community and Rural Development departments, development partners, faith-based organisations, community institutions, and frontline workers.
The initiative focuses on improving child development outcomes through nutrition, responsive caregiving, early learning, behaviour change, and community ownership.
The SKOCH jury highlighted several innovative interventions, including the integration of ECD activities within SHGs, engagement with faith-based organisations, the Music and Movement Programme, and a strong emphasis on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion.
