UNICEF India, the Centre for Policy and the Government of Meghalaya convened the inaugural roundtable of the Young People’s Action Group (YPAG) in Shillong on May 12, marking the launch of the Northeast’s first formally institutionalised platform for youth participation in climate and health policymaking.
The roundtable, themed “From Consultation to Influence,” brought together young leaders, researchers, artists, entrepreneurs, disability advocates, community representatives and senior government officials to strengthen youth participation in policy drafting and decision-making.
Opening the session, Wailadmiki Shylla, Hon’ble Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, stressed the importance of involving youth in shaping policies that will directly impact their future. Agatha K. Sangma, Chairperson, Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and co-convenor of the YPAG roundtable, said the initiative aligns with Meghalaya’s Youth Policy, which aims to expand youth involvement in governance and leadership.
Dr. Shakil P. Ahammed, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, highlighted that meaningful policies must reflect lived community experiences, while Soledad Herrero, Chief of Field Services, UNICEF India, noted that Meghalaya has created a rare structure allowing young people to influence policy before it is written.
According to Jade Lyngdoh, Director of the Centre for Policy, YPAG will provide a structured platform for youth from diverse communities, especially those affected by climate change, to engage with institutions and contribute to sustainable solutions.
YPAG was endorsed by the Government of Meghalaya under the MPOWER project in 2025 and formally launched in March 2026 by Mr. Lahkmen Rymbui, Hon’ble Education Minister, Government of Meghalaya. The initiative is designed to give young people institutional access, policy knowledge and opportunities to contribute at the drafting stage of climate and health policies.
The discussions identified six priority areas for YPAG’s first cohort, including climate anxiety and mental health, gendered health impacts, disability inclusion, agrarian and informal livelihoods, and the integration of indigenous knowledge into policymaking.
