The Government of Meghalaya has unveiled an ambitious and comprehensive roadmap to combat undernutrition across the state. This came during the two-day District Nutrition Leadership Workshop held in Shillong on June 12–13, 2025. Organised in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the workshop brought together senior officials from all 12 districts, including Deputy Commissioners, Block Development Officers, and programme functionaries, to develop district-specific action plans aimed at improving maternal and child nutrition outcomes.
Addressing the closing session of the workshop, Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Conrad K. Sangma announced a set of strategic interventions. These include an increase in the state nutrition budget to improve the taste and quality of food supplements under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, as well as the rollout of a parallel community-based pilot model in selected blocks. In this model, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Village Health Councils (VHCs) will prepare and deliver nutritious meals using local produce, while existing systems continue.
The Chief Minister also approved a budget of ₹9–10 crore annually to construct Mini Anganwadi Centres in 1,400 villages currently without such facilities. These centres will provide both nutritional and early learning support to children. In addition, the government is preparing to launch a Nutrition and Millet Mission under the Department of Agriculture, aimed at reviving traditional and nutrient-rich food systems. Emphasising the intent behind these efforts, the Chief Minister stated, “This is about dignity, nutrition, and community participation,” noting that these initiatives will be implemented through the convergence of multiple schemes, including those under Social Welfare and MGNREGS.
In his closing remarks, Chief Secretary Shri D.P. Wahlang reminded the Council that the way forward wasn’t about complexity—but about consistency. “We already know the problems,” he said. “Now we must go out and solve them.”
With that, the Council ended. But in many ways, its real work has only just begun.
Presenting the broader strategic framework, Dr. Sampath Kumar, IAS, Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary, emphasised that malnutrition is not solely a health issue, but a multidimensional development challenge. He highlighted the links between poor nutrition and structural issues such as poverty, early pregnancies, poor educational outcomes, and low awareness levels among communities. He outlined four key pillars of the state’s strategy: investing in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life through Early Childhood Development (ECD); strengthening service delivery through initiatives such as the Human Development Leadership Programme (HDLP) and Rescue Mission; promoting behavioural change in diet and health practices; and establishing village-level Nutrition Centres led by SHGs and monitored via the Statistical Nutrition Program. He also noted that Deputy Commissioners would lead the implementation of these plans with support from frontline workers and technical partners.
The workshop served as a platform for district officials to present localised insights, progress, and challenges. East Khasi Hills called for stronger involvement of fathers and community champions to improve outreach. South West Khasi Hills advocated for the promotion of traditional grains like millets to address high rates of anemia. South Garo Hills reported positive developments in anemia reduction but expressed concern over a rising trend in child stunting. Eastern West Khasi Hills flagged low dietary diversity and limited awareness as key barriers. Several districts also called for the establishment of nutrition gardens in schools and Anganwadi Centres. Chief Secretary Shri D.P. Wahlang endorsed the idea, describing it as a “simple and impactful solution” that can be scaled easily.
International experts from IFPRI, including Dr. Purnima Menon and Smti Rasmi Avula, lauded Meghalaya’s decentralised and community-centric planning model. They encouraged greater reliance on local foods, the mobilisation of frontline workers, and culturally relevant messaging to drive nutrition education and behaviour change. A short film screened during the workshop showcased the success of the Human Development Leadership Programme (HDLP) in bridging last-mile gaps and connecting underserved families to essential public services through coordinated field-level engagement.
The outcomes of the workshop will now be placed before the Human Development Council (HDC), chaired by the Chief Minister. The Council is expected to formally approve district-level nutrition action plans, scale up successful pilots from Samanda and Khatarshnong, fast-track the construction of Mini Anganwadi Centres, promote millet-based nutrition models, and ensure alignment across flagship schemes such as ECD, MPOWER, DREAM, and MSRLS. These interventions are designed to accelerate Meghalaya’s progress toward achieving its 2032 Human Development Goals, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).