Shillong (Meghalaya), June 6: Meghalaya’s innovative approach to tackling maternal mortality has received international acclaim, with the state being named a jury favourite at the prestigious Creative Bureaucracy Festival held in Berlin this June.
The recognition highlights the state’s grassroots-driven strategy to reduce maternal deaths, which have historically been high due to Meghalaya’s challenging terrain and widely dispersed population across more than 6,000 villages.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, reacting to the honour on social media platform X, said the award is a testament to what can be achieved when governance is paired with strong community engagement.
“This recognition is more than just an award. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when government leadership works hand-in-hand with committed grassroots networks. Together, we’ve shown that meaningful change begins when people come first,” Sangma posted.
Meghalaya’s innovative approach to governance and maternal health has been honoured as a jury favourite at the Creative Bureaucracy Festival in Berlin, June 2025.
This recognition is more than just an award, it’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when government leadership…
— Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) June 7, 2025
Acknowledging the work still to be done, he added, “There’s still a long journey ahead toward achieving zero maternal and infant mortality, but moments and recognitions like these reaffirm that we are on the right path.”
To address long-standing health challenges, the Meghalaya government shifted from top-down planning to community-led solutions.
Two key practices underpinned the initiative: formation of cross-sectoral teams at all levels and the empowerment of village health councils to identify and solve local problems. This approach encouraged grassroots innovation and strengthened local ownership of health outcomes.
Additionally, the government instituted regular review meetings and field visits to reconnect state systems with citizens, helping align efforts, surface concerns, and build trust.
One notable innovation emerged in a district where health officials observed that many pregnant women could not reach hospitals in time for delivery.
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In response, temporary accommodations near health facilities were arranged. This solution was later scaled up into a network of citizen-managed transit homes across the state.
As a result of these and other community-led initiatives, Meghalaya recorded a nearly 50% reduction in maternal deaths between 2021 and 2023. (With inputs from nenews.in)
