Chief Minister Conrad Sangma today announced that the State will soon launch a focused nutrition and millets mission to nutrition challenges.
Speaking at the district nutrition leadership workshop, the chief minister said the State will work closely with the Minister for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. “This mission will align perfectly with the goals of the Human Development Council,” he said.
Sangma emphasised the importance of having a shared purpose and collective vision across departments when addressing human development challenges in Meghalaya.
He stressed the need to increase state-side budgetary allocations to improve both the quantity and taste of existing nutrition supplements and a parallel implementation model and also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to infrastructure development through convergence.
He announced financial clearance for an estimated Rs 9–10 crore annual requirement to start Mini Anganwadi Centres for providing nutritional and ECD services in a total of 1,400 uncovered villages under ICDS through state funding.
“We will work with the Social Welfare Department to ensure these centres are completed by combining MGNREGS, state funds, and externally aided projects,” he said.
The two-day workshop was organised by the Meghalaya government in collaboration with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) which was attended by ministers, senior officials, deputy commissioners, block development officers, district officials representing Health, Social Welfare, C&RD (MSRLS) Education and allied departments under the Human Development Council (HDC) from across all 12 districts to strengthen leadership, data-based planning, and decentralised actions to tackle malnutrition in Meghalaya.
Chief Secretary Donald P Wahlang noted that most of Meghalaya’s nutrition-related challenges are already well understood by those working on the ground. He underlined the high rate of stunting and the persistently high prevalence of anemia among women, especially pregnant women. He also highlighted an important point raised by one of the Deputy Commissioners—that of nutrition gardens in schools and Anganwadi Centres.
During the workshop, district teams finalised their nutrition action plans, challenges and unique local insights.
Eastern West Khasi Hills identified health and nutrition as cross-cutting concerns, citing deeply rooted dietary habits, poor diversity, and limited community awareness as key barriers.
East Khasi Hills advocated for increased father involvement, the use of local role models, and mobilising community volunteers to strengthen awareness and service uptake.
South Garo Hills reported mixed progress, with maternal anemia rates improving but stunting increasing significantly.
South West Khasi Hills emphasized the revival of traditional, nutrient-rich diets such as millets to combat anemia. Many of the remaining districts echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the need for greater convergence, culturally relevant interventions, improved data fidelity, and stronger frontline engagement to accelerate nutrition outcomes across Meghalaya.
