In a landmark partnership that blends community trust with government vision, the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission (MECDM) and Bakdil, a grassroots NGO and social work wing of the Catholic Church in Tura, have signed a two-year MoU to implement a community-led initiative across the five districts of Garo Hills. Signed on May 6, 2025, the initiative is titled: “To Optimize Health and Wellbeing of Village Communities” and is built on a shared commitment to transform how early childhood development is understood and practiced—starting at the village level.
This partnership taps into Bakdil’s deep-rooted presence in the region by deploying 7 Block/Parish Coordinators, mobilizing faith-based volunteers, SHG members, and youth leaders, and conducting awareness drives at both parish and village levels. Meanwhile, MECDM will provide technical expertise, IEC materials, and training support, while facilitating coordination with government departments and frontline workers. The initiative aims to elevate outcomes across health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, early learning, and child protection—ensuring no child is left behind due to lack of awareness or access.
With monthly reviews, midline and endline assessments, and regular field mentoring built into the model, this is more than a project—it’s a pathway to sustainable transformation. The power of this collaboration lies in its design: faith, community, and government co-owning the future of Meghalaya’s youngest citizens.
The programme witnessed participation from over 100 attendees, along with key dignitaries present included Shri Vibhor Agarwal, IAS (Deputy Commissioner, West Garo Hills), Smti Rikse R. Marak, MCS (Joint Secretary, CM’s Secretariat Tura), and Shri Abraham T. Sangma, IPS (Superintendent of Police, West Garo Hills), along with officers from the Directorate of Social Welfare and MECDM.