Shillong, Oct 31: Adviser to the Social Welfare Department Paul Lyngdoh on Friday announced that the Meghalaya government will ensure complete Anganwadi Centre (AWC) coverage across all villages in the State by March 2026, bringing the remaining 1,700 uncovered villages under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) network.
Lyngdoh said the decision was taken during a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on October 29, where the progress of key initiatives under the Social Welfare Department was assessed.
“In this meeting, a major decision taken was that all villages known as uncovered villages — where we currently do not have Anganwadi Centres — will now be covered. As of today, we have over 6,000 AWCs, and the remaining 1,700 will be completed within March 2026,” Lyngdoh told reporters.
ADB Sanctions ₹20 Crore Annually for Enhanced Nutrition Programme
Announcing a major boost for child nutrition, Lyngdoh said the Asian Development Bank has sanctioned ₹20 crore per year to support the State’s enhanced Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP).
“The SNP will be further strengthened with additional fresh items that were not part of the earlier diet,” he said, adding that the enhanced programme includes both hot cooked meals (HCM) and take-home rations (THRs).
Children aged 3–6 years will receive two hot meals daily along with two eggs per week. The State government will bridge any funding gaps.
2,000 AWCs to Be Upgraded With Solar Power, Community Ownership
Addressing infrastructural gaps, Lyngdoh announced that 2,000 Anganwadi Centres will be upgraded by the end of this year. These centres will be communitized, shifting ownership from the government to the local community, and will be equipped with solar panels to ensure reliable power supply.
“Our attention has also been drawn to the fact that many centres lack electricity. To fill this gap, upgrades will include solar installations, and the centres will integrate learning activities, recreation and other programmes,” he said. A pilot project covering 200 locations will be launched shortly.
Strengthening ECCE and Monitoring
To improve Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), the government will create a dedicated post for a lady supervisor, who will serve as an assistant to Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs).
The Chief Minister will conduct quarterly review visits to monitor outcomes and implementation.
“The Chief Minister stressed on micro-level detailing and outcome tracking. A detailed action plan covering all activities has been prepared,” Lyngdoh added.
Nutritionist Appointment Approved
Lyngdoh also confirmed that the government has cleared the appointment of a nutritionist, who will be responsible for sample collection and reporting to the department to ensure food quality and safety.
