Photo Courtesy: nenews
Shillong: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma inaugurated a three-day Early Childhood Development Implementation Science Workshop in Shillong on Monday. The event gathers policymakers, practitioners, and national experts to discuss how to build integrated systems that better support families and children.
Organized by the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission alongside the State Capability Enhancement Project, the Van Leer Foundation, and the Asian Development Bank, the workshop operates under the theme: From Science to State Action. Building Integrated Systems for Early Childhood Development.
Addressing the attendees, Sangma argued that meaningful progress frequently relies on improving the execution of existing programs rather than launching new schemes. He noted that governments typically possess the necessary data and evidence, but real change requires the collective will to implement those insights effectively.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Meghalaya has already seen significant gains by focusing on better governance. He pointed to a threefold increase in MGNREGA utilization and a four to fivefold rise in the use of centrally sponsored and externally aided projects. The state is currently managing nearly 12,000 crore rupees in externally aided initiatives.
Sangma emphasized that success should be measured by improvements in the lives of citizens rather than just the completion of infrastructure. He cited the state's work in reducing maternal mortality as a primary example. By identifying that logistics and transport were the real barriers for expectant mothers, the government launched community-based transport and Safe Motherhood Homes. This integrated strategy eventually led to the creation of the MOTHER program, which coordinates multiple departments to focus on maternal and child welfare.
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