Itanagar, July 31 (IANS) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, on Friday called for stronger regional cooperation and coordinated action among the Northeastern states to address emerging threats to children, including trafficking, online exploitation, substance abuse, child marriage, and cross-border vulnerabilities.

He stressed that safeguarding children’s rights and well-being requires a collective and sustained effort by all the states in the region.

Addressing the inaugural session of the North East State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights Convention 2026 at Tawang, the Chief Minister described the gathering as a historic milestone, marking the first time that all State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights from the North East have come together on a common platform dedicated exclusively to the protection and promotion of child rights.

Welcoming Chairpersons, Members and Member Secretaries of the State Commissions, representatives of national institutions, senior officials, development partners and civil society organisations, Khandu said Tawang, a land synonymous with peace, compassion and harmony, was a fitting venue for deliberations on safeguarding the rights and future of children.

Emphasising that child welfare is the true measure of good governance, Khandu said the success of any government cannot be judged solely by economic growth or infrastructure development but by how effectively it protects its most vulnerable citizens.

He reiterated that every child deserves a safe environment free from violence, exploitation, abuse and discrimination, along with access to education, healthcare, nutrition and equal opportunities.

Highlighting Arunachal Pradesh’s commitment towards child welfare, Khandu outlined a series of initiatives aimed at empowering children, particularly the girl child. He informed that under the Dulari Kanya Scheme, more than 15,500 girls have benefited from financial assistance for higher education, with the State investing over Rs 38 crore.

He further noted that over 134 awareness programmes have been conducted under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative across the state. He also informed that the state government has earmarked Rs 3.3 crore under the Girls Health & Hygiene Scheme in 2026-27 to provide sanitary napkins to more than 25,000 beneficiaries.

Stressing that child welfare begins with maternal care, Khandu highlighted several initiatives, launched by the Prime Minister, specifically aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.

He informed that more than 38,000 beneficiaries have received support under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, while over 34,000 beneficiaries are being directly assisted through nutrition-related interventions.

Under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, more than 1.8 lakh women and children are covered, with 152 Anganwadi Centres already upgraded and another 125 being developed under the Adopt an Anganwadi initiative.

On strengthening the child protection ecosystem, Khandu said that under Mission Vatsalya, more than 2,500 vulnerable children are receiving sponsorship support, while 2,479 children are benefitting from monthly assistance of Rs 4,000 under sponsorship, foster care and aftercare schemes.

He also highlighted the functioning of the 24×7 Child Helpline 1098, One Stop Centres in all 25 districts and Women Helpline 181 as critical support mechanisms for children and women in distress.

Calling child protection a collective responsibility, Khandu stressed that governments alone cannot safeguard children.

He urged schools, families, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, health workers, community leaders, faith-based organisations and civil society groups to work together in creating a safe and nurturing environment for children.

Highlighting the unique geographical and social realities of the Northeast region, the Chief Minister said issues such as trafficking, online exploitation and substance abuse often transcend state boundaries, making inter-State coordination essential.

He expressed hope that the Convention would facilitate greater exchange of best practices, stronger implementation of child protection laws, improved coordination in cases involving missing and trafficked children, and more effective responses to emerging online threats.

Urging participants to move beyond discussions and translate ideas into tangible outcomes, the Chief Minister said the true success of the Convention would be measured not by the number of speeches delivered but by meaningful improvements in the lives of children across the region.

Congratulating the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights under its Chairperson Ratan Anya for organising the landmark Convention, Khandu thanked all participating State Commissions, national institutions, experts, officials and development partners for contributing to the collective mission of protecting children and advancing their rights across the Northeast.

A North East SCPCR Convention Souvenir was also released by the Chief Minister and dignitaries present to mark the occasion.

The two-day convention is being chaired by Women & Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul, while the inaugural ceremony was attended by Advisor Home Mutchu Mithi, Advisor Women & Child Development Tsering Lhamu, Tawang MLA Namgey Tsering among others.

–IANS

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