On 23rd May 2025, under the Human Development Leadership Programme (HDLP), MCS Officer Trainees visited Kynjoin Umran village in Ri-Bhoi District to engage with the community and identify challenges firsthand. The visit revealed pressing concerns—low Aadhar enrolment, early pregnancies, and a strong reliance on traditional birth attendants, all contributing to gaps in healthcare access. Educational dropouts were also a concern, compounded by limited student motivation and lack of structured support. Infrastructure was another bottleneck: poor water management, insufficient toilets, and dependence on traditional livelihoods like broomgrass and betel leaf farming. Yet, within these challenges lay an opportunity.
What stood out was the community’s willingness to engage and their openness to new ideas. The team proposed immediate and long-term interventions: strengthening IEC campaigns, linking Aadhar promotion through SHGs, and establishing Village Education Committees with school counsellors to combat dropouts. Plans for vocational training in tailoring, crafts, and apiculture are being considered to equip unskilled youth with livelihood options. Rainwater harvesting and watershed management under MGNREGA could address sanitation and water needs.
Importantly, young talent like Rimika Khongkhai, a rising local athlete, showcases the potential that lies dormant in Kynjoin Umran. With the right interventions, this village is not just in need of change—it is ready for it.