SHILLONG : The Assembly’s Estimates Committee has directed the Social Welfare Department to mobilize funds from both the state and central governments to establish Anganwadi centres in more than 1600 villages across Meghalaya that currently lack these essential services.
Committee chairman Mayralborn Syiem, after a review meeting on Friday, expressed concern over the large number of uncovered villages and stressed the urgency of addressing the gap.
“We are concerned about the uncovered villages which do not have Anganwadi centres. There are more than 1600 such villages. We have advised the department to explore all possible ways to secure funding from both central and state governments,” Syiem said.
The committee also highlighted pressing social issues such as early marriage and teenage pregnancy, emphasizing the need for awareness and community engagement.
Syiem underlined the importance of sensitizing youth through initiatives like Mission 1000, and called for the involvement of religious leaders, traditional heads, NGOs, and civil society organizations.
He stressed that tackling issues like drug abuse, early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and tobacco use requires collective responsibility from all sections of society.
On the recent police crackdown on prostitution in Shillong, Syiem noted that all concerned departments must work together to ensure safety, security, and social wellbeing.
The committee also reviewed the functioning of several key departments, including education, PWD, PHE, Information Technology, and Home (Police).
Clarifying the committee’s role, Syiem said the objective is not to assign blame but to ensure that benefits and provisions approved in the budget reach people at the grassroots level.