Shillong, Apr 28: The Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission (MECDM) on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Social Service Centre (SSC), the social wing of the Archdiocese of Shillong, to roll out a large-scale early childhood development programme across 47 parishes.
The two-year initiative, titled “Growing Tomorrow: Early Child Development Programme,” aims to embed scientific child development practices into church-led community systems, potentially reaching over 1,000 villages through parish networks.
The MoU was signed at Bianchi Hall in Laitumkhrah in the presence of senior government officials, church leaders, and parish priests from across the Archdiocese.
The partnership comes against the backdrop of a worrying child nutrition scenario in the state. Meghalaya records one of the highest stunting rates in the country, with 46.5% of children under five affected—well above the national average of 35.5%.
Officials said the programme will focus on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life—from conception to two years—widely considered the most critical phase for brain development and long-term health outcomes.
Under the collaboration, early childhood development (ECD) practices will be promoted through parish structures, including youth, mothers’, and fathers’ groups, as well as family cells. The programme will also be integrated into pre-marital counselling conducted by priests, aiming to influence parenting practices even before childbirth.
Key focus areas include exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, improved complementary feeding and dietary diversity, responsive caregiving and greater father involvement, kitchen gardens to enhance household nutrition and
adolescent awareness on child development and relationships.
Additional Chief Secretary and MECDM CEO Dr. Sampath Kumar said the initiative reflects a shift towards community-led development.
“This is not only the subject of government—it is the subject of society and the church. The church reaches families every week. Even small conversations with parents can create long-term change,” he said.
Archbishop Victor Lyngdoh welcomed the collaboration, stating that the Church sees child development as a moral and social responsibility.
“Every child is a gift. We are happy to partner in this effort to ensure children are nurtured with dignity from the very beginning,” he said.
SSC Director Fr. Teiborlang Lyngdoh said the programme aligns with the organisation’s focus on responsible parenthood and community well-being.
Launched in 2022, MECDM is an integrated mission funded by the Asian Development Bank, bringing together departments of health, education, social welfare, and rural development under a unified framework.
Officials said the SSC partnership marks a strategic expansion of the mission into faith-based institutions, leveraging their grassroots reach to drive behavioural change at scale.
