In what may be termed as a visionary move by the Government of Meghalaya as part of its long-term strategy to improve human capital outcomes of adolescents and youth through a range of enabling policies and programs, the State Cabinet on February 2nd, 2024 approved the Meghalaya Multi-Sectoral Project for Adolescent Well Being, Empowerment, and Resilience (MPOWER). This groundbreaking initiative aims to transform the lives of the youth in the State, ensuring their successful transition from school to work, and fostering holistic support for health and well-being.
The program will offer coordinated multi-sectoral interventions for adolescents aged 9-19, focusing on building productivity and resilience. The interventions will cover both in-school and out-of-school adolescents, utilizing a user-centric approach. As part of this, the Meghalaya Human Development Council has been constituted to provide overall guidance and to channelise systemic efforts from all concerning departments, agencies and institutions contributing to improve the human development indicators.
It may be mentioned that the Government of Meghalaya is developing a long-term strategy to improve human capital outcomes through a range of holistic and enabling policies and programs which include the Education Policy 2018, the Youth Policy 2021, Early Childhood Development Mission 2021, Health Policy 2021, Mental Health and Social Care Policy 2023, Meghalaya Drug Reduction, Elimination and Action Mission (DREAM) 2023 among a host of entrepreneurship building programmes such as PRIME and FOCUS, among others.
As part of the State Capability Enhancement Project (SCEP) Framework, MPOWER aims to adopt a Problem-Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) approach to identify the strategies to address evolving needs and circumstances of adolescents. The MPOWER initiative will be guided by an age-based skills competency framework and curriculum.
The science of brain development has shown that adolescence offers a critical window of opportunity to impact social, emotional and cognitive development of individuals, with lifelong effects. Poor physical and mental health during adolescence can have lasting impact on one’s ability to work. While recognizing the challenges faced by Meghalaya’s youth, MPOWER seeks to equip them with the necessary skills, resources, and support systems to unleash their full potential. By addressing issues related to health, education, and career development in the adolescent stage, the program aims to contribute to the sustainable economic growth of the state by making youth future ready.
The Meghalaya Cabinet’s approval marks a significant step toward realizing the state’s long-term holistic strategy for improving human capital outcomes among adolescents and youth. The implementation of MPOWER is expected to bring about positive and lasting changes in the lives of young people, fostering a healthier and more empowered future for Meghalaya.
