World Bank Team Reviews Meghalaya’s Healthcare, Adolescent Welfare Projects In Sohra.

Sohra/Shillong; May 2026: A World Bank delegation visited Sohra in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district to review key healthcare and adolescent welfare initiatives being implemented under the Meghalaya Health Project and the MPOWER programme. The team has visited the Sohra Community Health Centre (CHC), which is being upgraded into a First Referral Unit (FRU) under the state’s Service Delivery Redesign initiative supported by the Meghalaya Health Project.

Officials said the CHC has also been activated for IPA/OBB through state-supported Outcome Based Budgeting, aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes at the grassroots level. During their visit, the delegation reviewed the functioning of the facility and assessed efforts to improve referral healthcare services in the region.

The World Bank team also visited Pomlum Primary Health Centre (PHC) to observe the implementation of health and wellness programmes at the grassroots level. As part of the tour, the delegation visited Cherra Presbyterian School to monitor activities being carried out under the Meghalaya Multisectoral Project for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER).

The team observed adolescent wellbeing sessions focused on awareness, resilience-building and holistic development for young people. The delegation also visited the CMYC centre at Madanlyngki, supported under MPOWER, to assess its functioning as a community-based hub for adolescent engagement and empowerment.

Later, the team inspected the Sub-Centre at Mawkdok, developed under the Meghalaya Health Project, where officials showcased infrastructure improvements and healthcare planning aimed at strengthening essential health services in rural areas. Officials said the visit was aimed at reviewing the impact of ongoing projects and strengthening collaboration for healthcare and community development initiatives in Meghalaya.

Last year in the month of January (06th January 2025) – World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors approved a new project in Meghalaya to better equip 500,000 adolescents to make the transition from school to work, by reducing dropouts, improving learning outcomes and offering guidance for accessing jobs and starting businesses.

Meghalaya’s adolescents, who constitute over 24% of the state population, are facing barriers to their education, and to their physical and mental health. School dropout at the upper primary level is 11%, which is 3X the national average, and 22% at the secondary level, close to double the national average. In addition, substance abuse, early marriage and teenage pregnancy have exacerbated these challenges. The $35 million variable spread loan from the International Bank of Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) has a final maturity of 15 years, including a grace period of 5 years.

The $35 million Meghalaya Multisectoral Project for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER) will help in strengthening learning outcomes for adolescents in grades 6-12, by closing gaps in students’ reading and math skills. To reduce dropout rates, the project will equip students with life skills, mental health awareness and provide guidance on career choices. Special focus will be on reaching student dropouts and providing them with the same support. The project, in partnership with Meghalaya State Skills Development Society, will also impart business skills to budding entrepreneurs and out-of-school adolescents.

Through mentoring programs, innovative web platforms and community clubs, the project will also work closely with parents and students to create diverse forums for learning. Youth will receive information on sexual reproductive health to help reduce teen pregnancies and ensure school completion.

“The holistic wellbeing approach, adopted under this project, reflects learning from states such as Jharkhand where similar initiatives are enhancing adolescent learning outcomes”, said Auguste Tano Kouamé then, the World Bank’s Country Director for India.

International experience has shown that the likelihood of securing quality jobs increases significantly with the completion of education. “The project design has also benefited from World Bank operations in Tanzania and Bangladesh, where youth engagement through information on job opportunities, counselling and safe community spaces helped reduce school dropout rates”, said Pravesh Kumar and Kanupriya Misra, the Task Team Leaders for the project.

As on January 2025, the World Bank had more than 60 projects in its portfolio focusing on access to jobs and job creation for women and youth with a total commitment amount of $9.3 billion.

Team Maverick.