Nutrition

Led by: Social Welfare Department

in collaboration with MECDM

Addressing the core challenge of child malnutrition through egg procurement across 6,162 AWCs, decentralized supplementary nutrition delivery, community management of acute malnutrition, and increased coverage of IFA supplements across Meghalaya.

Nutrition Crisis in Meghalaya

The Nutrition Component addresses the core challenge of improving child nutrition outcomes across Meghalaya, where stunting rates (46.5%) remain significantly higher than the national average. The component works to increase the average height of children through effective exclusive breastfeeding support, decentralization of Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP), and increased coverage of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) supplements for antenatal and postnatal mothers and adolescent girls.

Through a combination of direct nutrition delivery (egg procurement), community-led governance models (SNP decentralization), and protocol-based malnutrition management through the Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Protocol, the component ensures that nutrition interventions reach every child across both AWC-covered and uncovered villages. The approach emphasizes local food systems, community ownership, and systematic identification and treatment of acute malnutrition.

Strategic Focus Areas

Egg Procurement & Supply across 6,162 AWCs and 1,307 uncovered villages
SNP Decentralization through Village Nutrition Committees and Village Organisations
Community-based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Protocol at AWC level
IFA supplement coverage for mothers and adolescent girls

The Challenge

46.5%

Stunting Rate

vs 35.5% national average

58.1%

Child Anaemia

Children aged 6–59 months

29.0%

Underweight

vs 32.1% national average

Meghalaya Nutrition Survey

May 2023 - October 2024

A state-level community-led nutrition assessment implemented across all 7 tribal districts to generate district-level evidence for decentralized nutrition planning.

The survey combined SHG-led field data collection, institutional partnerships, technical sampling support, digital tools, and quality checks to produce district factsheets for programme planning.

Overview

State-level community-led nutrition assessment
Implemented across all 7 tribal districts
Designed to generate district-level evidence for decentralized planning

Coverage Statistics

6,335

Households

336

Clusters

41%

Children under 2 years

55%

Children 2-5 years

Implementation Model

SHG-led data collection
Community sensitization before data collection
Institutional support from MSRLS, Meghalaya Legislative Research Fellowship, Meghalaya Society for Social Audit & Transparency, and Social Welfare Department

Technical Architecture

Sampling design by IIPS
Training of Trainers by IIPH
CAPI tool developed by Viewzen Labs
Real-time monitoring and quality checks
Spot checks and field supervision

Data Analysis

Conducted by Institute of Economic Growth (IEG), Delhi
District factsheets prepared

Recognition

Presented at Delivering for Nutrition in South Asia (D4N 2025), Kathmandu, Nepal, 2-4 Dec 2025
Session: Data Systems at Scale: Strengthening Infrastructure, Quality & Use
Awarded Best Presentation of the Session

Download District Nutrition Survey Factsheet

SNP (Hot Cooked Meals) Decentralization Pilot

April 2024 - Ongoing

A phased pilot to decentralize Hot Cooked Meals procurement and delivery through locally adaptable menus, community institutions, and strengthened food safety practices.

The pilot tests VHC-led and VO-led engagement models, connects community consultation to model design, and currently covers 1,926 beneficiaries across 20 AWCs.

Phase 1: Community Consultations (April-August 2024)

FGDs in Laitkroh, Ranikor, and Samanda
Findings presented at District Nutrition Challenge Workshop

Phase 2: Model Design

6-day locally adaptable menu
Eggs thrice weekly
VHC engagement in Laitkroh and VO engagement in Samanda

Phase 3: Capacity Building (Nov-Dec 2024)

Training on menu, procurement, food safety, and monitoring

Phase 4: Pilot Rollout (Feb 2025)

10 AWCs in Khatarshnong Laitkroh
10 AWCs in Samanda
Total: 20 AWCs

Phase 5: Food Safety Strengthening (May-June 2025)

92 AWWs, helpers, and community members trained
Participants certified as Food Safety Supervisors

AWCs in pilot rollout

Food Safety Supervisors trained

1,926

Current beneficiaries

Strengthening Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) through Health Spoken Tutorial Initiative (IIT Bombay)

July 2024 - Ongoing

A standardized MIYCN strengthening initiative focused on the first 1,000 days and implemented through convergence between Health, ICDS, and MSRLS.

The initiative uses familiarization tests, screening tests, face-to-face training, and mother-baby dyad follow-up to institutionalize nutrition practices across the lifecycle.

Objectives

Focus on first 1,000 days
Strengthen convergence: Health + ICDS + MSRLS
Institutionalize standardized nutrition practices

Training Focus

Breastfeeding positioning
Early initiation
Infant weight gain understanding
Addressing misconceptions
Maternal nutrition
Complementary feeding

Implementation Model

Mother-Baby Dyad follow-up with 8-15 dyads per participant
Region-wise roll-out
Lifecycle approach

District-level stakeholders trained

19,696

Familiarization tests completed

13,457

Screening tests completed

750

Participants in 4-day F2F training

Poshan Maah Training - CMAM for Lady Supervisors

September 2024 - Ongoing

A state-wide CMAM training intervention for 200+ Lady Supervisors aligned with the National Protocol for Management of Malnutrition in Children.

The training strengthens early identification, growth faltering monitoring, counselling, referral protocols, and cluster-based cascade learning for SAM and MAM management.

Post-Training Strengthening

Early identification
Growth faltering monitoring
Improved counselling

Cascade Model

Cluster Learning Sessions
Case-based learning
Standardised follow-up and referral

SAM/MAM identification
Nutritional management
Counselling
Referral protocols

200+

Lady Supervisors trained

District Nutrition Leadership Programme (DNLP) with IFPRI

A district nutrition leadership strengthening programme focused on evidence-based planning and development of district-wise action plans.

The programme supports district teams to use evidence for nutrition planning, prioritize interventions, and translate findings into District-wise Action Plans.

Leadership strengthening
District-level evidence-based planning
District-wise Action Plans developed

Download District Nutrition Action Plans

District-wise Food Mapping & Context-Specific Planning

August 2025 - Ongoing

A district-wise food mapping and planning exercise documenting local foods, traditional recipes, and district factsheets to support nutrition programming.

The exercise included a 2-day training led by The George Institute for Global Health, New Delhi, structured FGDs, recipe compilation, and implementation across 380+ villages.