Early Childhood Development (ECD), covering the period from birth to eight years, is a critical stage that lays the foundation for lifelong health, learning, behaviour, and socio-emotional well-being. During this phase, rapid brain development occurs, making children highly responsive to environmental influences, care-giving practices, and social interactions. Recognizing the importance of this developmental stage, the Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) was introduced in 2018 by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the World Bank. The framework provides a comprehensive approach to support optimal child development through five interconnected components: good health, adequate nutrition, responsive care-giving, opportunities for early learning, and security and safety. These components highlight the importance of coordinated actions by families, communities, and service systems to ensure that children grow and develop in supportive and nurturing environments. In the Indian context, improving early childhood services remains an important priority, particularly in geographically remote and socio-culturally diverse regions. The state of Meghalaya, located in the north-eastern part of the country, is characterized by hilly terrain, dispersed rural settlements, and predominantly tribal communities. These geographical and socio-cultural conditions create unique challenges in ensuring equitable access to maternal and child health services, nutrition programs, early learning opportunities, and child protection systems. Strengthening early childhood support systems in such contexts requires attention not only to infrastructure and service delivery but also to cultural practices, community participation, and local knowledge systems that influence care-giving and child-rearing practices. Promoting awareness among caregivers, strengthening the role of front-line workers, and improving coordination among health, nutrition, and education services are essential to enhance early childhood outcomes. A culturally responsive and community-based approach is particularly important in regions like Meghalaya, where traditional values and community networks play a vital role in shaping care-giving behaviours and supporting the holistic development of young children.

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T. Marboh et al., “Nurturing Care Initiatives for Holistic Early Childhood Development in Meghalaya, India”, International Journal of Health and Medical Sciences, vol. 11, pp.20-29, 2025. Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.20469/ijhms.11.30003