- In Meghalaya, India, children are set to benefit from enhanced childcare services and improved nutrition. An initiative, supported by ADB and Japan, aims to address significant growth and development challenges, providing a stronger start in life.
- ADB and Japan are partnering to enhance early childhood development in Meghalaya, India. This project will provide critical childcare, improve nutrition, train educators, and upgrade facilities, contributing to a brighter future for young children.
- In Meghalaya, India, ADB and Japan are teaming up to give young children a better start—by boosting childcare, nutrition, teacher training, and facilities where they are needed most.
In Meghalaya, India, rural poverty poses significant challenges for mothers and children including limited access to essential maternal care, high maternal mortality rates, postpartum depression, and children suffering from malnutrition, stunted growth, and anemia. The state has nearly 6,000 Anganwadi centers that provide critical early childhood care, nutrition, education, and healthcare. However, over 1,000 additional centers are needed to reach remote villages. In 2023, ADB and Japan partnered with the state government to implement a program implementing crucial interventions on the first 1,000 days of life, vital for child development. The initiative strengthens home-based care for infants, enhances Anganwadi services for children aged 1.5 to 6, and introduces maternal mental health support through post-natal visits. The program also promotes climate-resilient daycare centers, nutrition gardens, gender equality training, and play-based learning. The program aims to double support for children, especially girls, fostering brighter futures through improved nutrition, education, and positive parenting.
Transcript
Every child deserves a healthy start in life—but for many in Meghalaya, this is a challenge.
In Meghalaya, India, rural poverty weighs heavily on mothers and children. Mothers lack essential care before, during, and after childbirth.
Postpartum depression is common and maternal mortality rate is high. The children suffer from malnutrition, stunting, and anemia.
Their lives are touched by hardship from the very start.
Government-run Anganwadi centers provide early childhood care, nutrition, education, and healthcare services to children and mothers.
They also provide training and counseling for parents and communities. But in Meghalaya’s mountainous landscape, many villages remain hard to reach.
Meghalaya has almost 6,000 Anganwadi centers, but at least 1,000 more are needed for hard-to-reach villages.
In 2023, ADB and Japan supported the government of Meghalaya to launch a program transforming early childhood development and maternal mental health in Meghalaya.
Focusing on the first 1,000 days of life, so critical for the growth and development of the children, the program nurtures growth from infancy to age six.
For infants, home-based care is being strengthened.
For children aged 1.5 to 6 years old, Anganwadi Centers will offer better learning, nutrition, and parenting support.
For mothers, the program will provide new maternal mental health services that involve perinatal visits by experts.
Climate-resilient daycare centers and nutrition gardens will be supported.
As the program unfolds, Meghalaya can look forward to:
- Providing supplementary nutrition to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children from 6 months to 6 years
- Training more educators in gender equality and social inclusion
- Expanding maternal mental health visits and services
- Supporting double the number of children, especially girls
- Fostering communities of positive parenting and play-based learning
ADB and Japan, in collaboration with Government of Meghalaya: Bringing brighter beginnings for Meghalaya’s children.