Shillong: Noting the growth of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in Meghalaya from 5,000 in 2018 to nearly 55,000, with a revolving fund expanding from Rs. 40 crore to Rs. 1,100 crore, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma said this transformation reflects the power of women-led development at the grassroots.
He was speaking at the Silver Jubilee Celebration of Women for Integrated and Sustainable Empowerment (WISE), held at St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School, Laitumkhrah, on Saturday.
Themed “Celebrating 25 Years of Empowering Women, Enriching Lives,” the event was attended by Member of Parliament Dr. Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon, RNDM Sisters, and students.
Congratulating WISE on completing 25 years of service, Sangma praised the RNDM Sisters for their long-standing commitment to women’s empowerment.
He highlighted his government’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality, calling it a mission close to his heart.
“When I first became Chief Minister, Meghalaya’s maternal mortality rate was one of the most disturbing statistics I came across. It shook me deeply that while bringing life into this world, many mothers were losing their own,” he said.
The chief minister noted that institutional deliveries in the state had increased from below 50% to about 70% and credited initiatives like the Safe Motherhood (MOTHER) Program, under which nearly 400 Safe Motherhood Homes have been set up to house high-risk mothers and their attendants.
Each attendant receives Rs. 500 per day as an incentive.
“Today, our maternal mortality rate has dropped by more than 50% in the last seven years,” he said, adding that his vision goes beyond reaching the national average.
“The goal is to ensure that not a single mother in Meghalaya loses her life while bringing life into this world.”
Sangma stressed that women’s health is closely tied to their social and economic empowerment.
He said the MOTHER Program (Meghalaya Outcome Transformation in Health, Education, Rural Development, and Social Welfare) aims to integrate efforts across departments to support women and children.
Highlighting gender inclusion in governance, he shared that 50% of all Village Employment Council (VEC) positions are reserved for women, with over 3,000 VECs now headed by women.
Through CM-ELEVATE and PRIME, he said, 60% of beneficiaries are women, with over Rs. 150 crore invested in entrepreneurship, training, and equipment.
Sangma also cited examples of women-led economic growth, including the rise in Lakadong turmeric production from 1,000 metric tons in 2017–18 to nearly 20,000 metric tons, and the introduction of shiitake mushroom cultivation using Japanese technology.
Encouraging future partnerships, the chief minister invited WISE to identify livelihood sectors for joint initiatives.
“We can work together to scale it into a model project — just like we did with the latex manufacturing center in Garo Hills and the ice cream factory in North Garo Hills,” he said.
Touching on early childhood and youth development, Sangma said the state must invest in children “from the day they are born.”
He mentioned the ADB-funded Early Childhood Development (ECD) program and the EMPOWER programme for adolescents, which focus on holistic development through music, sports, self-defense, and emotional well-being.
Concluding his address, the chief minister lauded WISE’s perseverance and urged continued collaboration “to make the next 25 years even more impactful — empowering more women, saving more mothers, and uplifting more communities.”
MP Dr. Ricky Andrew J. Syngkon, who attended as Special Invitee, described WISE as a model of sustainable development rooted in care, advocacy, capacity, and education.
He lauded the organisation’s work with single mothers, victims of domestic violence, and women in distress, and praised its outreach in prisons and rural areas.
“WISE has become a beacon of hope, bringing dignity into the lives of those facing immense challenges,” he said.
Earlier, WISE Governing Board Member Dr. M.P.R. Lyngdoh recounted the organisation’s journey since its founding in June 2000 under Judith Shadap, RNDM, inspired by the verse “I have seen the affliction of my people…” (Exodus 3:7).
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In her address, Baiahlunlang Nongkhlaw, Provincial of RNDM India North East Province, described the milestone as “a testimony of faith, compassion, and perseverance,” and called for renewed dedication to service with “greater love and courage.”
The celebration featured prayers, cultural performances by WISE trainees and children, the release of a documentary chronicling WISE’s 25-year journey, and a felicitation ceremony for board members and volunteers.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Atisha Mary Khongjee, Deputy Director of WISE, followed by the National Anthem performed by the St. Mary’s Higher Secondary School Choir.
The Silver Jubilee marked not only 25 years of service and achievement but also a renewed commitment to WISE’s mission — empowering women, uplifting communities, and enriching lives across Meghalaya and beyond.
