Daijiworld Media Network - Shillong
Shillong, Jun 1: Meghalaya chief minister Conrad K Sangma has emphasised that stronger implementation systems, integrated governance, and result-oriented policymaking are essential to improving early childhood development, maternal health, and broader social welfare outcomes in the state.
Addressing the inaugural session of a three-day Early Childhood Development (ECD) Implementation Science Workshop in Shillong, held at Vivanta, the Chief Minister said that most governments already possess adequate data, scientific understanding, and policy frameworks to address developmental challenges. However, he stressed that the real challenge lies in ensuring effective execution and building sustained political and administrative will.
Recalling his early tenure after assuming office in 2018, Sangma said he had consistently maintained that meaningful transformation does not always require new schemes, but rather better implementation of existing programmes.
He noted that both central and state government initiatives are already designed to address key developmental gaps, but their success depends largely on how efficiently they are delivered on the ground.
Highlighting governance reforms in Meghalaya, Sangma said improved implementation mechanisms have significantly enhanced the utilisation of centrally sponsored schemes and externally aided projects. He cited the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), stating that better execution has led to nearly a threefold increase in utilisation and absorption capacity.
He also pointed out that Meghalaya is currently managing externally aided projects worth around Rs 12,000 crore, placing the state among those handling substantial development portfolios despite its size.
“The point I am trying to make is that we often know the problems. We understand the science, the data and the analysis behind them. But ultimately, there has to be a will to make a difference,” he said.
Sangma stressed the importance of designing solutions that are practical and locally relevant, rather than relying on uniform, one-size-fits-all approaches.
Referring to maternal health initiatives, he said the government initially assumed that increasing institutional deliveries would address maternal mortality. However, field experience revealed that economic constraints and logistical challenges were major barriers.
“We were encouraging institutional deliveries without recognising the economic realities these mothers faced,” he said.
To address this, the state developed a community-based transport support system involving local vehicle owners and also established Safe Motherhood Homes to accommodate expectant mothers from remote areas who require access to healthcare facilities.
Sangma said such measures highlight the need to accurately identify ground-level problems before designing policy responses that are affordable, practical, and context-specific.
Linking governance with long-term social outcomes, the Chief Minister also referred to sports infrastructure development, including a Rs 160-crore indoor stadium, stating that success should ultimately be measured by improvements in youth participation and achievement.
He added that Meghalaya has adopted an integrated governance model connecting health, education, nutrition, rural development, and social welfare sectors. This approach led to the creation of the MOTHER programme — Meghalaya’s Outcome and Transformation in Health, Education, Rural Development and Social Benefit — which coordinates multiple departments around maternal and child welfare outcomes.
“We are no longer looking at departments or schemes in isolation. We are looking at a human life and asking how government can support that life at every stage,” he said.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the link between women’s economic empowerment and health outcomes, noting that the number of Self-Help Groups in Meghalaya has grown from around 4,500 to nearly 60,000 over the past eight years, contributing to broader social progress.
Emphasising cooperative federalism, Sangma said states must continue learning from one another through platforms that encourage innovation and knowledge sharing. “There are no small states or big states when it comes to innovation and good governance,” he added.
The three-day workshop has brought together policymakers, development experts, practitioners, and government officials from across the country to discuss early childhood development, behavioural science, systems strengthening, and adaptive leadership.