Arunachal Pradesh Governor Lt Gen K.T. Parnaik (Retd) on Saturday, 22 August called on the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) to act as a vigilant watchdog and a proactive force in building a child-friendly state — one where every child can grow with dignity, security, and equal opportunity. The appeal came during a meeting at Lok Bhavan, Itanagar, where the Commission's Chairperson and members briefed the Governor on recent developments.

Key Concerns Raised by the Governor

Governor Parnaik directed the Commission to prioritise a range of critical vulnerabilities facing children in the state, including child abuse, trafficking, child labour, substance abuse, school dropouts, child marriage, and cyber exploitation. He stressed that sustained, coordinated efforts are essential to protect children from these threats and to uphold their rights, safety, and overall well-being.

He expressed grave concern over rising POCSO cases in the state, while also regretting what he described as an extremely low prosecution rate under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The Governor has consistently advocated for stronger enforcement of POCSO provisions and called for stricter monitoring of Child Care Institutions, including regular inspections of observation homes, shelter homes, hostels, and other residential facilities for children.

Shift from Reactive to Preventive Framework

A key thrust of the Governor's address was his call for the Commission to move away from a purely complaint-driven model. He advised the APSCPCR to adopt a preventive child protection framework, placing greater emphasis on early identification of at-risk children rather than waiting for grievances to be reported.

To achieve this, he recommended strengthening district-level monitoring and fostering closer coordination among schools, Anganwadi centres, law enforcement agencies, health departments, and community organisations. He also stressed the need for strict implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, the POCSO Act, and the Right to Education Act, with periodic reviews and independent assessments to close systemic gaps.

North East SCPCRs Convention at Tawang

The meeting followed a briefing by the APSCPCR Chairperson on the outcomes of the two-day North East SCPCRs Convention on Child Rights, held at Tawang on 31 July and 1 August. 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.

Governor Parnaik appreciated the initiative, noting that children's well-being must remain a collective responsibility of both society and government. He underscored that every child deserves a safe childhood, quality education, good health, and protection from exploitation.

Call for a Statewide Child Rights Awareness Movement

Expressing concern over growing social and digital challenges confronting children, the Governor urged the Commission to launch a broad-based Child Rights Awareness Movement across Arunachal Pradesh. He called for a statewide child rights literacy campaign involving educational institutions, Panchayati Raj bodies, religious leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups, and the media.

Awareness programmes covering child protection laws, online safety, mental health, counselling services, and reporting mechanisms, he said, should reach every village and urban locality in the state. An informed and vigilant society, he observed, remains the strongest safeguard for children. With rising POCSO cases and persistent structural challenges, the Commission's response in the coming months will be closely watched.