Shillong, Mar 27: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today announced a new initiative to address malnutrition and stunting among children in Meghalaya.
Speaking at the inauguration of the third edition of the Culinary Cascade at Ward’s Lake here, Sangma said, “While celebrating food, I want to address an issue very close to my heart. Our state faces multiple challenges in health, education, and nutrition. Malnutrition and stunting among children remain serious concerns.”
The Chief Minister said that to tackle this, the government will be launching Mission 1000, a targeted initiative to eliminate malnutrition and stunting in Meghalaya.
It was only yesterday that the issue of stunting was dwelt on during a review meeting led by Adviser to the Health Department, Mehtab Chandee A Sangma MLA, who happens to be the CM’s wife.
According to the CM, Mission 1000 will focus on monitoring every child from birth, providing targeted nutrition and leveraging technology for continuous oversight.
He envisions integrating this mission with local food resources. “Our chefs, restaurants, and hotels can adopt villages or districts, promoting locally grown, nutrient-rich foods and creating programs that involve communities and CSR (corporate social responsibility) initiatives,” Sangma said.
According to him, by connecting this with the Culinary Cascade, the government can address critical social challenges while celebrating our culture and cuisine.
Nearly 46 per cent of children are stunted, which means being short for their age. In 2024 government figures also showed that 12 per cent of children were wasting (low weight for height) and 26 per cent were underweight (low weight for age).
