TAWANG : Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday called for stronger regional cooperation among the Northeastern states to address emerging challenges affecting children, including trafficking, online exploitation, substance abuse, child marriage and cross-border vulnerabilities.
Addressing the inaugural session of the North East State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Convention 2026 at Tawang, Khandu described the gathering as a historic milestone, marking the first occasion when all State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights from the Northeast have come together on a common platform dedicated to child rights protection and promotion.
Welcoming chairpersons, members and member secretaries of State Commissions, representatives of national institutions, senior officials, development partners and civil society organisations, the Chief Minister said Tawang, known for its message of peace, compassion and harmony, was an appropriate venue for deliberations on safeguarding the future of children.
Khandu said child welfare is the true measure of good governance and asserted that the success of any government should not be judged only by economic growth and infrastructure development, but by how effectively it protects vulnerable sections of society.
He emphasised 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 initiatives for child welfare, particularly for the girl child, Khandu said more than 15,500 girls have benefited from financial assistance for higher education under the Dulari Kanya Scheme, with an investment of over Rs 38 crore. He also informed that more than 134 awareness programmes have been conducted across the state under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative.
He further stated that the state government has allocated Rs 3.3 crore under the Girls Health and Hygiene Scheme for 2026-27 to provide sanitary napkins to over 25,000 beneficiaries.
Stressing that child welfare begins with maternal care, Khandu highlighted various maternal and child health initiatives launched by the Central government. He said over 38,000 beneficiaries have received support under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, while more than 34,000 beneficiaries are being assisted through nutrition-related interventions.
Under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, over 1.8 lakh women and children are covered, with 152 Anganwadi Centres upgraded and another 125 being developed under the Adopt an Anganwadi initiative.
On strengthening child protection mechanisms, the Chief Minister said over 2,500 vulnerable children are receiving sponsorship support under Mission Vatsalya, while 2,479 children are benefiting from monthly assistance of Rs 4,000 through sponsorship, foster care and aftercare schemes.
He also highlighted the role of the 24×7 Child Helpline 1098, One Stop Centres in all 25 districts and Women Helpline 181 as important support systems for children and women in distress.
Calling child protection a collective responsibility, Khandu urged schools, families, law enforcement agencies, judiciary, health workers, community leaders, faith-based organisations and civil society groups to work together to create a safe and nurturing environment for children.
Highlighting the unique geographical and social challenges of the Northeast, he said issues such as trafficking, online exploitation and substance abuse often cross state boundaries, making inter-state coordination essential.
He expressed hope that the convention would facilitate the exchange of best practices, strengthen implementation of child protection laws, improve coordination in cases involving missing and trafficked children, and develop effective responses to emerging online threats.
Urging participants to translate discussions into concrete outcomes, Khandu said the success of the convention would be measured by the positive changes brought to the lives of children across the region.
The Chief Minister congratulated the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), led by Chairperson Ratan Anya, for organising the convention and thanked participating commissions, institutions, experts, officials and development partners for their contribution towards advancing child rights.
A North East SCPCR Convention Souvenir was also released during the inaugural programme.
The two-day convention is being chaired by Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Advisor Home Mutchu Mithi as guest of honour, Advisor Women and Child Development Tsering Lhamu, Tawang MLA Namgey Tsering as special invitees, along with other dignitaries.
