Shillong, Nov 3: Meghalaya’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) fellowship model, which has placed 1,400 youth in Anganwadi centres to deliver play-based early learning, will be studied for national replication, officials said.
The model was highlighted at ‘Advancing Care Economy through ECD Fellowship’ held at Lariti, Shillong, where Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma attended as chief guest.
Addressing ECD fellows, Anganwadi Workers and SHG members, Sangma called the mission “one of the greatest investments that we can make” and said the children supported today will lead the country in 2047.
“If some great idea comes from one of you, and if I see that it is great and it needs to be scaled up, we will provide the funds,” he said, thanking the Asian Development Bank (ADB) which has provided the majority of the project funds.
According to officials, close to 1,400 fellows are currently working alongside Anganwadi Workers, about 27 per cent of the target of 5,200 fellows – one for every Anganwadi centre in the state. Another 3,800 fellows will be onboarded to achieve full coverage.
The fellowship model engages one graduate or Class XII pass youth per village, selected through Village Organisations and Village Health Councils, to support early learning at centres, homes and community. The gap it seeks to fill is critical, with almost 90 per cent of a child’s brain developing by age five, yet Anganwadi workers have little time for early learning.
Each fellow receives an honorarium of about Rs 48,000 over the year-long fellowship and three NCVT-recognised certifications through the Healthcare Sector Skill Council.
ADB Principal Health Specialist Dr Dinesh Arora said the Department of Economic Affairs plans to study how the model can be applied across India. The mission was also presented before the Prime Minister last month.
The Chief Minister launched the Climate Smart ECD Centres Photobook and Saura-e-mitra app by SELCO Foundation on the occasion.
So far, 188 Anganwadi centres have been solarised with SELCO, with 1,000 more to follow, taking the total to 1,188.
