Shillong, March 31: In a major step towards strengthening maternal and child health, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday launched ‘Mission 1000 Days’, a ₹127 crore flagship programme aimed at supporting mothers and children during the most critical phase—from pregnancy to a child’s first two years.

The initiative is designed to tackle key challenges such as stunting, poor nutrition, and gaps in early childhood care, particularly in rural areas. Emphasising the importance of this critical window, the Chief Minister stated that improving outcomes during the first 1,000 days can significantly enhance long-term health, cognitive development, and overall human development indicators in the state.

Highlighting the urgency of the initiative, the Chief Minister said, “When I took office in 2018, one of the first issues that deeply concerned me was the high maternal mortality rate in Meghalaya… we resolved to do everything possible to bring it down.”

The programme includes nutritional support, awareness campaigns, training for frontline workers, and distribution of mother-and-child kits, all tailored based on grassroots feedback. It will also leverage technology for real-time tracking and monitoring to ensure timely interventions.

The mission will also promote community-based nutrition using local foods, strengthen capacity building, and address behavioural challenges such as declining exclusive breastfeeding and rising consumption of low-nutrient processed foods.

Calling for collective action, the Chief Minister urged citizens to participate actively, stating that the mission must evolve into a people’s movement to ensure lasting impact across Meghalaya.