Meghalaya ECD mission takes a major leap toward inclusivity with pioneering partnership with UCDC

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 19, 2024

In a significant move to ensure that inclusivity becomes a key focus in the development of young children in Meghalaya, the state government launched a landmark partnership with the Ummeed Child Development Centre (CDC), a leading organization acknowledged as consultants to the WHO’s Nurturing Care Framework, on September 19. This partnership, under the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development (ECD) Mission, was unveiled at a launch event held in Shillong, attended by key stakeholders, including Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma. 

The Meghalaya ECD Mission, which was initiated by the Chief Minister, has already made impressive strides in improving health, nutrition, and gender equality for children in the state. However, today’s launch of this partnership with Ummeed CDC takes it one step further by focusing on inclusivity which is a crucial, yet often overlooked aspect of early childhood development. The collaboration introduced the Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD), a proprietary tool which is licensed to be used and trained only by Ummeed CDC in India. The tool will be used to monitor, detect, and address developmental delays in children between the ages of 0 and 42 months.

Prior to his address, Chief Minister Conrad Sangma took centre stage to launch the tool and officially unveil the GMCD in the State. He noted, “The Meghalaya ECD Mission has always been about ensuring the overall well-being of our children, and we are proud of the progress we have made in areas like health and nutrition. But inclusivity is key to ensuring that every child can grow and thrive, no matter their background or challenges. This partnership with Ummeed CDC marks a new era in how we approach early childhood development in Meghalaya, and it is a critical step toward creating a more inclusive future for all children.”

He reflected on the inspiration behind Ummeed, sharing, “In 2016, during a visit to Australia, a professor told us that ‘the greatest strength of India is its youth, and maybe the greatest challenge is its youth.’ This insight has been a guiding force for us and is embedded in the core of Ummeed.” He also emphasized the broader impact of Ummeed: “Beyond early childhood, our vision includes fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. Through the CM Elevate program, we aim to support 20,000 entrepreneurs, driving our state’s economic growth and creating opportunities for our youth.”

During the event, Kumar emphasized the significance of this ambitious program, which sets out to address the developmental needs of every child in Meghalaya. “This is not just another program with limited targets,” he remarked. “The goal is to ensure no child is left behind, and every child in the state is given the chance to thrive.” Describing the mission as a blend of both “science and love,” Kumar pointed out that every parent’s natural care for their child can be harnessed with the right support, turning Meghalaya into a model state for child development. With nearly 49% of the state’s population comprising children, he declared, “Meghalaya is truly a children’s state.”

He said the state’s proactive approach includes the establishment of Human Development Teams, which regularly visit vulnerable households, spending time with families to understand their challenges. “One recent field visit identified a 12-year-old girl with intellectual challenges who had gone unmonitored since birth,” said Kumar. “This highlights the critical need for our new Child Development Monitoring Guide, which will ensure that every child, particularly those between zero and 42 months, receives the attention they need.”

Dr Vibha Krishnamurthy, who has over 25 years of experience working with children with disabilities and their families and is also a Developmental Pediatrician and Founder of Ummeed Child Development Centre, delivered a keynote speech during the launch. She expressed her delight at being part of this groundbreaking initiative, stating:

“This project is truly pioneering, not just in Meghalaya, but across South Asia and the Asia Pacific. I cannot tell you how honoured and delighted I am to be introducing you all to this work that we will soon be doing together. 23 years ago, when I first entered this field, I encountered the shocking statistic that 15% of children in low and middle-income countries have some form of disability—this amounts to 52 million children in India alone.”

She emphasized that early detection and intervention are essential for these children, especially during the critical first three years of brain development when synaptic connections in the brain form at an astonishing rate.

“The good news,” Dr. Krishnamurthy noted, “is that promoting child development and early identification of challenges can lead to improved outcomes—better school performance, improved health, and greater future employment prospects. The Guide for Monitoring Child Development (GMCD) is a tool that does not stigmatize, but instead supports caregivers in creating nurturing environments and teaching interventions for optimal child development.”

She concluded by highlighting how early childhood intervention could increase future earnings by up to 25% for children, ensuring long-term benefits for the state’s growth and development.

Speaking from Bhopal, Dr Dinesh Arora, Principal Health Specialist, Asian Development Bank (ADB), commended the work being done in Meghalaya and stated, “Meghalaya is perhaps the first state in the Asia Pacific to come out with such visionary thinking,” Dr Arora said. “We are talking about transforming Anganwadi centres into nurturing, learning, and development hubs for children, where learning goes beyond midday meals.”

It may be mentioned that the initiative will see the training of over 15,000 frontline workers—such as ASHAs, Anganwadi workers, community-based Rehabilitation Workers, and Community Gender and Health Activists—using the GMCD. These frontline workers will be equipped with the skills to assess and monitor child development, identifying potential delays early and ensuring timely interventions.

As the day progressed, the event featured an overview of the project by Dr. Roopa Srinivasan, Developmental Paediatrician and Senior Director of the ECDD program and Head of Clinical Services at Ummeed Child Development Center (CDC). Following this, Namrata Edwards, Senior Project Manager of ECDD programs, provided an orientation to the GMCD tool, accompanied by a live demonstration.  Day 2 will feature design and consultative sessions on the way forward, while Day 3 will include field visits to Thadlaskein (West Jaintia Hills) and Mawlai (East Khasi Hills) for community interaction.

Apart from Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, key participants in the launch included Development Commissioner and Principal Secretary Sampath Kumar, Ramakrishna Chitturi (CEO, MSRLS and APD, MECDM), Dr. Vibha Krishnamurthy (Developmental Pediatrician, Founder, Ummeed CDC), Dr. Dinesh Arora (Senior Health Specialist, ADB), CD Lyngwa (Director, SWD and Deputy CEO, MECDM) and RS Manners, Director DERT.

The event also saw participation from officials across various departments, including Social Welfare, Health, MSRLS, Education, SRCDA, Office of the Development Commissioner, MECDM and Bethany Society, along with supervisors from the RHFWTC, district DRCDA managers, and MSRLS.