Shillong, March 31 Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma launched the Rs 127-crore 'Mission 1,000 Days' programme on Tuesday, aimed at improving nutrition, reducing stunting, and enhancing early childhood development.
The initiative will support mothers and children during the critical period from conception to two years, with a focus on strengthening maternal care, promoting proper feeding practices, and ensuring early stimulation for holistic child development, officials said.
The flagship initiative of the state government will be implemented in convergence with multiple departments, including Social Welfare, Health and Family Welfare, Community and Rural Development, Education, and Planning.
Addressing the launch event, the chief minister said his government is adopting a focused and evidence-based approach to tackle key human development challenges, particularly maternal and child health needs.
"This is a mission-mode programme. We will continue to refine and improve it based on feedback, with the goal of eliminating stunting and malnutrition," he said.
He emphasised that the first 1,000 days of a child's life are critical for physical and cognitive development, and called for collective efforts from all stakeholders to ensure the success of the initiative.
Officials said the programme will include capacity building of frontline workers, community-based nutrition interventions using local food, awareness campaigns, and real-time monitoring through technology to track mothers and children.
The initiative also provides for additional nutritional support, training, and the distribution of essential kits for mothers and newborns, based on feedback from field workers.
The government expressed hope that 'Mission 1,000 Days' will significantly improve health, nutrition, and developmental outcomes for children across the state.