ITANAGAR, Aug 22: The Chairperson of the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), along with members of the Commission, called on the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Lt Gen KT Parnaik, PVSM, UYSM, YSM (Retd.), at Lok Bhavan, Itanagar, on 22nd August 2026. During the meeting, the Chairperson briefed the Governor on the outcomes of the 2-Day North East SCPCRs Convention on Child Rights, held at Tawang on 31st July and 1st August 2026. She also informed that the convention brought together child rights institutions from across the North Eastern States to deliberate on emerging challenges, best practices, and collaborative strategies for safeguarding the rights and welfare of children.
Appreciating the initiative, the Governor said that the well-being of children must remain a collective responsibility of society and the government. He emphasized that every child deserves a safe childhood, quality education, good health, protection from exploitation, and equal opportunities to realize his or her potential. The State Commission must function as a vigilant watchdog for child rights and also as a catalyst for creating a child-friendly Arunachal Pradesh where every child can grow with dignity, security, confidence, and hope, he said.
Highlighting the need for a proactive approach, the Governor advised the Commission to shift from a complaint-based mechanism to a preventive child protection framework. He said that while responding to grievances is important, greater emphasis should be placed on early identification and prevention of child rights violations. He urged the Commission to focus on issues such as child abuse, trafficking, child labour, substance abuse, school dropouts, child marriage, and cyber exploitation. He also suggested strengthening district-level monitoring and fostering close coordination with schools, Anganwadi centres, law enforcement agencies, health departments, and community organizations to identify vulnerable children before they fall into distress.
The Governor expressed his grave concern of growing POCSO cases and regretted the extremely low rate of prosecution. He has consistently advocated for effective prosecution of offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, also stressed the need for stronger monitoring of Child Care Institutions and implementation of child protection laws. He advised that regular inspections of observation homes, shelter homes, hostels, and other child care facilities be institutionalized.
The Governor further emphasized strict monitoring of the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, the POCSO Act, and the Right to Education Act to ensure that every child remains safe, educated, and protected. Periodic reviews and independent assessments, he noted, would strengthen accountability and help address systemic gaps.
Expressing concern over increasing social and digital challenges confronting children, the Governor underscored the importance of building a broad-based Child Rights Awareness Movement across the State. He observed that an informed and vigilant society is the strongest safeguard for children. He encouraged the Commission to launch a statewide child rights literacy campaign involving educational institutions, Panchayati Raj bodies, religious leaders, youth organizations, civil society groups, and the media. Awareness programmes on child protection laws, online safety, mental health, counselling services, and reporting mechanisms, he said, should reach every village and urban locality.
The Chairperson thanked the Governor for his valuable guidance and assured him that the Commission would actively work towards implementing his suggestions to create a safer, more inclusive, and child-friendly environment in Arunachal Pradesh.
APSCPCR Members Shri Niri Chongrowju, Shri Honluk Lukham, Shri Ngurang Achung, and Member Secretary Smti Yakar Dawe accompanied the Chairperson during the meeting.
