Shillong: Meghalaya will implement a unique ‘Early Childhood Development Mission’ (ECDM) to cater to children in over 1,500 villages which are not covered under the ICDS programme of the government.
“Taking into consideration and the need of early childhood development for the holistic development of the children, the cabinet has approved the ECDM,” Education Minister Lahkmen Rymbui told reporters after a cabinet meeting here Monday.
The mission would be a convergence of the departments of social welfare, health and family welfare, education and other stakeholders for ensuring better health care and education of the children in the state, he said.
Rymbui said that financial implication for implementation of the mission is around Rs 350 crore.
He, however, said that everything will be finalized once MoU is signed with the agency which will provide the fund for implementation of the Mission in the state.
Rymbui said that there are over 4 lakh children in the age group of 0-6 years in Meghalaya.
Stating that over 1,500 villages are not covered under the ICDS programme, Rymbui said only 4,000 plus villages are being covered under the programme.
“With the implementation of this Mission, we hope we will be able to cater to the need of the children who need the care at the early stage,” he added.
