Our Work
Discover how MECDM is transforming early childhood development across Meghalaya through integrated programs, community partnerships, and data-driven impact.
Our Vision
"Every child in Meghalaya achieves their full developmental potential through access to quality health care, nutrition, early stimulation, and nurturing care during the first 8 years of life."
Objectives
Ensure good health outcomes for children 0-8 years and mothers
Provide adequate nutrition for optimal growth and development
Deliver quality early childhood care and education
Create safe, nurturing, and stimulating environments
Promote responsive caregiving practices in families
Build capacity of frontline workers at all levels
What is MECDM?
The Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission is a government initiative focused on holistic development of children from birth to 8 years through community participation. It brings together departments, village organisations, and faith-based institutions to ensure every child receives good health, nutrition, education, responsive caregiving, and safety.
11
Districts
5,482
AWCs
5L+
Children
$55.77M
ADB Investment
Home-Based Care
Supporting children 0-1.5 years through home visits by ASHA workers, maternal mental health services, and improved nutrition with eggs in the supplementary program.
Centre-Based Care
Strengthening Anganwadi centres for children 1.5-8 years with extended hours, trained ECD educators, play-based learning, and positive parenting programs.
Building Capacity
Establishing a State Resource Centre for research, training, and quality assurance to continuously improve ECD services across Meghalaya.
Life-Cycle Approach to Human Development
Early Childhood (0-8 years)
90% of brain growth happens in the first 5 years. This period lays the foundation for a strong economy.
School Children (9-19 years)
Adolescence is a critical window to improve physical health & mental well-being for youth to achieve their full potential.
Youth (20-29 years)
Skilling, employment and entrepreneurship systems help reap the benefits of demographic dividend.
Strong Economy
Vision: To create opportunity and prosperity for all.
Addressing Challenges Across the Life-Cycle
The Mission addresses interconnected challenges across pregnancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood to break the cycle of poor health, malnutrition, and limited opportunities.
Mission Priorities
Reduce Developmental Delays
Early identification and intervention through GMCD protocol
45,000+
GMCD screens
Improve ECCE Quality
Activity-based learning in every AWC
85%
AWWs trained
Strengthen Community-led ECD
Empower VHCs and SHGs as change agents
6,000+
VHCs active
Collaborative Governance Model
Meghalaya is building a massive Early Childhood Movement through multi-department convergence
Together with Community, Faith-based & Family Institutions as supportive caregivers
Project Organization Structure
Governing Council
Chaired by Chief Secretary
Principal Secretary/Commissioner and Secretary, Social Welfare Department
- Member-Secretary & Vice-Chairman
The Committee shall comprise of representatives from:
(i) Planning Department (ii) H&FW Department (iii) Finance Department (iv) Education Department (v) Community & Rural Development (vi) CEO, Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society (vii) Director of Social Welfare Department (viii) Specialists on Health, Nutrition, Early Childhood Education and Development (ix) Mission Director, National Health Mission (x) Mission Director, State Rural Employment Society and other stakeholders.
State Resource Centre for Child Development (SRCDC)
Consultative Executive Committee
Chaired by Principal Secretary
Implementing Agencies for ECD Project in Meghalaya
1. Early Childhood Mission Society (ECMS), Social Welfare Department, Government of Meghalaya
2. State Rural Employment Society, Community and Rural Development Department, Government of Meghalaya
Executing Agency
Planning Department
10,000+
Total workforce across Meghalaya serving children and families
Partners & Collaborators
Government Departments
Social Welfare Department
Health & Family Welfare
Education Department
Community & Rural Development
Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society
State Resource Centre for Child Development
Funding Partner
Asian Development Bank
$55.77 Million Investment • Project Period: 2022-2028
Health & ECD Partnership
USC University of Southern California
Khan's Foundation
CDFI - Centre for Digital Financial Inclusion
HSTP - Health Systems Transformation Platform
Centre for Policy Research
NICE Foundation
Grameen Health Care
Apollo Hospitals
Jhpiego
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Johns Hopkins University
ECHO India
IQVIA
Indian Institute of Public Health
WISH Foundation
Kalike (Tata Trusts)
Population Council
Rocket Learning
Sesame Workshop India
UNICEF
Vinyas
Mandala - Centre for Accelerated Development
The George Institute for Global Health
Youth Development
Ashoka University
Krea University
Growth Lab (Harvard)
Mandala
Livelihood & Climate
CRISP
Boston University
World Resources Institute
Rabobank
IORA
Yale University
Cross-sectoral
Suffolk University
IDinsight
Inclusion Economics (Yale)
Public Affairs Centre
A'chik Baptist Dalgipa Krima
Programs & Interventions
Health
Maternal & Child Health Services
Comprehensive health services for mothers and children from pregnancy through the first 8 years of life, focusing on preventive care, early detection of health issues, and timely interventions.
Key Interventions:
- Home-Based Newborn Care (HBNC) for 0-42 days
- Home-Based Care for Young Children (HBYC) for 3-15 months
- GMCD developmental screening at key touchpoints
- Maternal mental health support and counseling
- Immunization coverage and tracking
- Early identification and referral of high-risk cases
Nutrition
Adequate Nutrition for All
Ensuring adequate nutrition for pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children through diversified food programs, growth monitoring, and community-based nutrition education.
Key Interventions:
- Supplementary Nutrition Program (SNP) for all beneficiaries
- Hot Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centres
- Egg Mission - 2+ eggs per week for children
- Growth monitoring and promotion
- Management of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)
- Nutrition counseling for caregivers
Early Learning
Play-Based Early Childhood Education
Quality early childhood care and education through play-based learning approaches, trained educators, and age-appropriate curricula that prepare children for school and life.
Key Interventions:
- State ECCE curriculum rollout in all AWCs
- Training of AWWs and Lady Supervisors on ECCE
- Demonstration ECD Centres as learning labs
- Play materials and learning corners
- Activity-based learning methodology
- School readiness assessments
Community Engagement
Community-Led ECD Movement
Mobilizing communities to take ownership of early childhood development through Village Health Councils, Self-Help Groups, and faith-based organizations working together.
Key Interventions:
- Activation of 6,000+ Village Health Councils
- SHG and Village Organization engagement
- Faith-Based Organization partnerships
- Parenting circles and support groups
- Community-based ECD Educators from SHGs
- Social and behavior change communication
Infrastructure
Child-Friendly Spaces
Creating safe, stimulating, and child-friendly environments at Anganwadi Centres and ECD facilities that support holistic child development and effective service delivery.
Key Interventions:
- AWC upgradation with child-friendly design
- Construction of new ECD centres
- Building as Learning Aid (BaLA) integration
- Climate-resilient and solar-powered models
- WASH facilities in all centres
- Safe outdoor play areas
Research & Innovation
Evidence-Based Policy Making
Building a robust evidence base through research partnerships, innovative pilots, and data systems that inform policy decisions and continuous improvement of ECD services.
Key Interventions:
- CDC Shillong - State Resource Centre
- Research partnerships with academic institutions
- Policy development and advocacy
- Unified data systems across departments
- Monitoring & Evaluation frameworks
- Documentation and knowledge sharing
Data & Impact
MECDM operates across all 11 districts of Meghalaya, reaching over 5 lakh children and their families through a network of 5,482 Anganwadi Centres and 10,000+ frontline workers.
Our data systems track key indicators across health, nutrition, early learning, and infrastructure to ensure evidence-based decision making and continuous improvement of services.
The Mission uses a unified data layer that integrates information from Social Welfare, Health, and Education departments to provide a complete picture of each child's developmental journey.
Key Indicators & Targets
Current: 12%
HBYC Coverage(0-1.5 years)
Children and PLW utilizing full HBYC services
Updated: Dec 2024
Current: 8%
AWC Utilization(1.5-3 years)
Young children accessing centre services
Updated: Dec 2024
Current: 42%
Pre-school Enrollment(3-6 years)
Children enrolled in AWC pre-school
Updated: Dec 2024
Current: 35%
ECD Curriculum Implementation
AWCs implementing age-appropriate curriculum
Updated: Nov 2024
Current: 45%
Workforce Certification
ECD cadre with increased knowledge & skills
Updated: Dec 2024
Current: 28%
ASHA Home Visits
ASHAs completing full HBYC schedule
Updated: Dec 2024
Current: 15%
AWC Infrastructure Upgrade
Centres with climate-resilient features
Updated: Dec 2024
Current: 10%
Extended Daycare(8 hours)
AWCs operating extended hours
Updated: Dec 2024
Current: 52%
Supplementary Nutrition
Children receiving eggs 2+ days/week
Updated: Dec 2024
Success Stories
Baiahunlang AWC: A Model Transformation
How one Anganwadi Centre became a beacon of quality early childhood care through community ownership and dedicated workers. The transformation included infrastructure upgrades, trained staff, and active parent engagement.
ASHA Rihun's Journey to 500+ Screenings
A frontline worker's dedication to early developmental screening is helping identify and support children with delays. Her systematic approach has become a model for other ASHAs in the district.
Early Intervention Changed My Child's Life
A mother shares how GMCD screening and timely support helped her child overcome developmental challenges. Early identification at 9 months led to therapy that made a remarkable difference.
VHC Mawsynram: Nutrition Revolution
How a Village Health Council mobilized the community to eliminate malnutrition in their village through kitchen gardens, nutrition awareness, and regular growth monitoring camps.
Publications & Reports
ECD Operational Guidelines 2024
Comprehensive framework for implementing ECD services across Meghalaya
Nutrition Survey Findings: State-wide Assessment
Analysis of nutritional status of children under 5 years across all districts
GMCD Assessment Protocol for Frontline Workers
Step-by-step guide for developmental screening at community level
Annual Progress Report 2024-25
Mission achievements, learnings, and roadmap for the coming year
Brain Development in Early Years: A Handbook
Science of early brain development for parents and caregivers
Home Visit Guidelines for ASHA Workers
SOPs for conducting effective HBNC and HBYC visits