The Meghalaya Early Childhood Development (ECD) Mission has been conferred the Gold SKOCH Award in the category of Early Childhood Development at the 108th SKOCH Summit Public Policy Forum on Regulatory Framework for Viksit Bharat, held at the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Delhi. The award recognizes Meghalaya’s pioneering efforts in building a comprehensive and collaborative model for Early Childhood Development (ECD), placing the state among the country’s leading innovators in social development and governance.
The recognition follows a rigorous national-level evaluation process that commenced in March 2026 and involved multiple rounds of scrutiny and assessment. The Meghalaya ECD Mission was shortlisted among several initiatives from across the country and underwent a comprehensive review process that included project presentations, public voting, third-party expert evaluations, documentation reviews, photographs, videos, impact narratives, and detailed assessment of programme outcomes.
Throughout the evaluation process, the Mission showcased its unique and integrated approach to Early Childhood Development through a collaborative governance framework. Led by the Department of Social Welfare as the nodal department, the Mission has successfully brought together the Health Department, Community & Rural Development Department (MSRLS & SRES), Education Department, development partners, faith-based organizations, community institutions, and frontline workers to improve outcomes for children during the most critical years of life.
The SKOCH jury recognized Meghalaya’s efforts in creating a statewide ecosystem for child development that goes beyond service delivery to focus on community ownership, behaviour change, responsive caregiving, nutrition, early learning, and multi-sectoral convergence. The Mission’s innovative initiatives, including community engagement through faith-based organizations, integration of ECD within Self-Help Group platforms, promotion of early stimulation through the Music and Movement Programme, strengthening of responsive caregiving practices, and its emphasis on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI), were highlighted as key strengths of the model.
Receiving the Gold SKOCH Award is not only a recognition of past achievements but also an affirmation of Meghalaya’s commitment to ensuring that every child receives the care, nutrition, stimulation, protection, and opportunities needed to reach their full potential. The Meghalaya ECD Mission remains committed to strengthening partnerships, scaling innovations, and building a future where every child in the state has the best possible start in life.
The final stage of the SKOCH Award assessment and presentation was led by a delegation from the Meghalaya Early Childhood Development Mission comprising Mr. Ronald Kynta, Chief Operating Officer- Meghalaya ECD Mission, Ms. Nayna Warjri, Programme Manager, and Mr. Meaibor Hiam Roy M. Pdah, Civil Engineer.