Department of Social Welfare
Lead implementing agency for ICDS, Anganwadi services, supplementary nutrition, and community-based care for children and mothers
The Department of Social Welfare is the lead implementing agency for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme in Meghalaya, overseeing a network of 5,896 Anganwadi Centres across 39 Community Development Blocks and 2 Urban ICDS Projects. Under MECDM, the department is at the heart of frontline nutrition, care, and early stimulation services for children aged 0–6 and pregnant and lactating mothers.
Overview
The Department of Social Welfare, Government of Meghalaya, serves as the primary custodian of child welfare and protection services in the state. As the nodal agency for ICDS — India's flagship programme for early childhood development launched in 1975 — the department delivers six core services: supplementary nutrition, immunisation (in convergence with Health), health check-ups, referral services, non-formal pre-school education, and nutrition and health education.
Within the MECDM convergence model, Social Welfare plays the anchor role. The department manages the Anganwadi infrastructure — the primary physical platform through which ECD services are delivered at the community level. Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers are the frontline workforce who interact daily with children and mothers, making them the backbone of the mission's reach into every village.
The department coordinates with Education (for ECCE and school readiness), Health & Family Welfare (for immunisation, health check-ups, and referrals), and Community & Rural Development (for community mobilisation and convergent planning at the village level). This collaboration ensures that the Anganwadi Centre serves not just as a feeding centre but as a vibrant hub for holistic child development.
ICDS & Anganwadi Centres
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is the world's largest programme for early childhood development. In Meghalaya, it is implemented across 39 ICDS Projects (one per C&RD Block) and 2 Urban ICDS Projects at Shillong and Tura, through a network of 5,896 Anganwadi Centres staffed by Anganwadi Workers and Helpers.
ICDS targets six categories of beneficiaries: children below 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and women aged 15–45 in the reproductive age group. The six services — supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, immunisation, health check-ups, referral services, and nutrition & health education — are delivered through the Anganwadi platform, making it the single most important delivery point for ECD in the state.
ICDS at a Glance in Meghalaya
Anganwadi Centres
Across all 12 districts
ICDS Projects
39 rural + 2 urban (Shillong & Tura)
Core Services
Nutrition, education, health, referral
Target Age Group
Plus pregnant & lactating mothers
Supplementary Nutrition Programme
The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) is one of the most critical services delivered through the Anganwadi network. It provides food to children below 6 years and pregnant/lactating mothers for 25 days a month (300 days a year). The programme has two key components:
Morning Snacks & Hot Cooked Meals
Served daily at Anganwadi Centres to children aged 3–6 years attending pre-school. Under MECDM, the department has enhanced the nutrition programme by including eggs in the supplementary programme to address protein deficiency and improve child growth outcomes.
Take-Home Ration (THR)
Ready-to-Eat Energy Dense Food distributed to children aged 6 months to 3 years and pregnant/lactating mothers. This ensures nutrition support reaches children who are too young to attend the Anganwadi Centre and mothers who need additional caloric intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The state has also announced financial clearance for approximately Rs 9–10 crore annually to establish Mini Anganwadi Centres, providing nutritional and ECD services in approximately 1,400 previously uncovered villages — ensuring no child is left behind.
Reimagining Anganwadis
Under MECDM, the department is transforming Anganwadi Centres from basic nutrition distribution points into vibrant, child-friendly early childhood development hubs. The Reimagining New AWC programme focuses on improving infrastructure, extending operating hours, training AWWs on play-based learning techniques, and creating stimulating environments with colourful learning materials, wall paintings, and outdoor play areas.
The vision is for every Anganwadi Centre to serve as a "second home" where children aged 1.5–6 years receive not just meals but also structured early stimulation, health check-ups, immunisation support, and positive parenting guidance for caregivers. Trained ECD Educators deployed alongside AWWs provide dedicated early learning activities, allowing AWWs to focus on nutrition and health monitoring.
Growth Monitoring & Community Care
Growth monitoring is a fundamental activity at Anganwadi Centres. AWWs regularly weigh and measure children, plotting their growth on standardised charts to identify underweight, wasting, or stunting early. Children identified as Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) or Moderately Acute Malnourished (MAM) are referred for community-based management and, where necessary, facility-based treatment.
The department also promotes community-based care models for malnourished children, working with families to improve feeding practices, dietary diversity, and hygiene behaviours. Under MECDM, the convergence with Health department ensures that malnourished children also receive micronutrient supplementation, deworming, and appropriate medical care.