Agartala, Aug 22 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Saturday urged the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) to function as a vigilant watchdog for child rights and a catalyst for creating a child‑friendly state where every child can grow with dignity, security, confidence and hope.
The Governor asked the Commission to give special attention to critical issues affecting children, including child abuse, trafficking, child labour, substance abuse, school dropouts, child marriage and cyber exploitation. He stressed the need for sustained efforts to protect children from such vulnerabilities and ensure their rights, safety and overall well‑being.
The Chairperson of the APSCPCR, along with members of the Commission, called on the Governor at Lok Bhavan, Itanagar. During the meeting, the Chairperson briefed him on the outcomes of the two‑day North East SCPCRs Convention on Child Rights held at Tawang on July 31 and August 1. The convention brought together child rights institutions from across the Northeastern states to deliberate on emerging challenges, best practices and collaborative strategies for safeguarding children’s rights and welfare.
Appreciating the initiative, the Governor said children’s well-being must remain a collective responsibility of society and government. He emphasised that every child deserves a safe childhood, quality education, good health, protection from exploitation and equal opportunities to realise their potential.
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 suggested strengthening district‑level monitoring and fostering close coordination with schools, Anganwadi centres, law enforcement agencies, health departments and community organisations to identify vulnerable children before they fall into distress.
The Governor expressed grave concern over rising POCSO cases and regretted the extremely low prosecution rate. He has consistently advocated for effective prosecution of offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and stressed stronger monitoring of Child Care Institutions and implementation of child protection laws. He advised regular inspections of observation homes, shelter homes, hostels and other child care facilities.
He further emphasised 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 and encouraged the Commission to launch a statewide child rights literacy campaign involving educational institutions, Panchayati Raj bodies, religious leaders, youth organisations, 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.
–IANS
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