Shillong, May 14, 2026: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday held separate meetings with delegations from UNICEF India and the World Bank to review the state’s ongoing development initiatives focusing on maternal and child health, nutrition, youth empowerment and economic growth.
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| Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma with UNICEF India representatives, including Soledad Herrero, during a meeting in Shillong to review Mission 1000 Days and discuss maternal and child nutrition, early childhood development and healthcare initiatives in the state. (Image: X/SangmaConrad) |
The UNICEF delegation, led by Soledad Herrero, met the Chief Minister at the State Guest House in Shillong after visiting various districts across Meghalaya. During their field visits, the team interacted with healthcare workers, mothers’ groups, village health councils, district officials and community leaders to assess grassroots implementation of welfare programmes.
During the discussions, UNICEF officials appreciated the Meghalaya government’s efforts to improve immunisation coverage, reduce maternal and infant mortality, strengthen maternal and child healthcare services and increase community participation in developmental programmes.
The delegation also praised the government-community partnership model adopted by the state in delivering healthcare and nutrition services at the grassroots level.
A major focus of the meeting was the progress of the state government’s flagship Mission 1000 Days initiative, which aims to improve maternal and child nutrition, reduce stunting and strengthen early childhood development during the crucial first 1,000 days of a child’s life.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the state government is working towards sustainable and long-term development by adopting a life-cycle and stakeholder-centric governance approach rather than depending solely on schemes.
He stated that multiple departments and programmes are being integrated to address different stages of human development - from early childhood to adulthood - through coordinated interventions in health, nutrition, education and welfare.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Meghalaya has witnessed improvements in recent years in reducing maternal mortality, infant deaths, immunisation gaps and malnutrition among children.
He also stressed the need for measurable outcomes, stronger implementation at the grassroots and continuous monitoring of programmes. Officials were directed to intensify awareness campaigns on breastfeeding, maternal nutrition and child feeding practices.
The meeting further reviewed anganwadi nutrition initiatives, including the provision of hot cooked meals with eggs for pregnant and lactating mothers, digital learning tools and youth fellowship programmes.
Sangma also discussed the proposed “Mission 003” initiative aimed at achieving Zero Maternal Deaths, Zero Unimmunised Children and ensuring every child achieves proper growth during the first 1,000 days to prevent stunting and build a healthier future.
The Chief Minister thanked UNICEF for its continued support and cooperation in Meghalaya’s developmental efforts and expressed hope for stronger collaboration in the future.
In a separate meeting, Sangma met Johannes Zutt, Regional Vice President of the World Bank for South Asia, to discuss Meghalaya’s ongoing collaboration with the World Bank across key sectors.
The discussions focused on maternal and child health, youth empowerment, farmer welfare, entrepreneurship and strengthening Agriconnect, MSMEs, logistics and value chains across the Northeast region.
Sangma said the Northeast has immense potential in agriculture, floriculture, food processing and entrepreneurship, adding that improved infrastructure and systems could transform the region into a major hub for domestic and global markets.
The Chief Minister expressed optimism about continued collaboration with the World Bank Group in advancing Meghalaya’s long-term development and economic goals.
