Meghalaya’s RICD Programme to Benefit Over 4,000 People with Education, Healthcare and Infrastructure Boost

The programme is being implemented by the Apollo Foundation – Total Health with support from Altius Telecom Infrastructure Trust and aligns with the Government of Meghalaya’s vision of holistic and inclusive development in rural areas.

The initiative was inaugurated by Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong in the presence of Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner Sampath Kumar, officials from the Pynursla Sub-Division, representatives of Altius and Apollo Foundation, village heads, teachers, students and community members.

Addressing the gathering, Tynsong reiterated that education remains a top priority of the state government, emphasizing the need to ensure quality learning opportunities for every child. He highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships in accelerating development, stating that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives can significantly complement government efforts in addressing developmental challenges.

He said the project, which is being implemented in 10 schools across East Khasi Hills, would create a transformative impact not only on students but also on their families and communities. He also urged teachers to focus on the holistic development of children and assured government support for expanding similar initiatives across the state.

Speaking as the Guest of Honour, Sampath Kumar highlighted Meghalaya’s Smart Village Movement (SVM), describing it as a unique initiative that brings together government, private enterprises and communities to drive development. He said the state is placing equal emphasis on physical and human infrastructure and noted that smart classrooms introduced under the programme would be expanded to other schools through various government schemes.

Representatives of Altius Telecom Infrastructure Trust also outlined the company’s commitment to community development. Head of HR Operations Jagat Mohanty said that while Altius has established over 1,100 telecom towers in Meghalaya, its vision extends beyond connectivity to creating opportunities and improving lives.

Head of CSR and ESG Rubecca Adlakha said the company’s social impact initiatives are guided by a vision of building resilient and digitally connected communities through inclusive and sustainable solutions. She noted that the newly launched project in Pynursla seeks to promote holistic village development through interventions in education, healthcare, water supply, sanitation, renewable energy, livelihoods and community development.

The RICD Programme is a multi-sectoral initiative aimed at strengthening education, healthcare, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, renewable energy infrastructure and overall community wellbeing in underserved tribal regions.

Currently, the programme covers 10 villages in East Khasi Hills, benefiting more than 4,170 people from 509 households. It supports 10 schools serving 647 students and strengthens healthcare services through two Primary Health Centres and two Sub-Centres catering to thousands of residents.

Under its education component, the programme has improved school infrastructure, introduced ICT-enabled smart classrooms equipped with computers and projectors, and installed solar power systems to ensure uninterrupted electricity. More than 20 teachers have also received training in digital pedagogy and capacity building.

The programme’s Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions include the construction of gender-sensitive toilets, installation of handwashing facilities and provision of RO-based drinking water systems in schools and community clusters. Regular awareness programmes are also being conducted to promote hygiene and sanitation.

To improve healthcare delivery, the initiative has supplied essential medical equipment to two Primary Health Centres and two Sub-Centres, benefiting an estimated 31,884 people across 23 villages.

Officials said the programme places strong emphasis on community participation and local ownership, with regular awareness campaigns being conducted to encourage health-seeking behaviour, sanitation awareness and collective responsibility for sustainable development.

The Meghalaya RICD initiative is envisioned as a scalable rural development model that can be replicated in other parts of the state, contributing to healthier, empowered and resilient communities.