Early Childhood Development Mission & 181 Helpline launched

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 8, 2022

The first State Women’s Conference on the theme, “Support and Celebrate” was held here today at State Convention Centre, Shillong on Wednesday.

Inaugurating the conference, Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma said the conference has such a big attendance and is also being viewed by online by about two lakh women from all the 46 blocks of the State just goes to show the commitment that women have to the cause they take up.

He also said the women’s commission plays a very important in providing the connect between the reality at the grass root level as being the voice of the women and the being the connect to the government.

The Chief Minister spoke of the different programmes of the government for the economic and social empowerment of women.

“We realized that there is a need to engage women economically so that they can divert their energies to different productive activities and the experiences shared by different women today bears testimony that an economically empowered women are in a better position to take care of their children, family and themselves,” he added.

The Chief Minister announced the launch of the revamped 181 Helpline.

Earlier Union Minister, Women & Child Development, Government of India, Smriti Zubin Irani, in her message was relayed during the inaugural session.

“I hope the accomplishments of the Meghalaya government become the best practices for other states and the Government of India to emulate,” she said.

Smriti Zubin Irani launched the Meghalaya Early Child Development (ECD) Mission virtually.

This is a sub-policy of the #Meghalaya Health Policy, the Mission will focus on the all-round qualitative care to address not only health concerns but socio-economic determinants which may hinder a child’s well-being.

The inaugural function was also attended by Minister, Social Welfare, Kyrmen Shylla, Chief Secretary, Rebecca V Suchiang and Principal Secretary, Social Welfare, P S Kumar and Chairperson, Meghalaya State Women’s Commission, Phidalia Toi.

Post the Inaugural Session discussions were held on ‘The Gender Gap in Decision Making in Meghalaya and Ways to Promote Women’s Leadership’ and on the topic ‘Women’s rights and voice, women’s health and safety- Analysis of the present scenario and the way forward’ by eminent journalists, professors, academicians, activists, doctors and law enforcers.