ITANAGAR, Jul 31: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday called for stronger regional cooperation and coordinated action among the North Eastern states to address emerging threats to 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 in Tawang, Khandu 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 safeguarding children's 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, known for its values of peace, compassion and harmony, was an ideal venue for deliberations on child welfare.
Stressing that child welfare is the true measure of good governance, the Chief Minister said a government's success should not be judged solely by economic growth or infrastructure development, but by how effectively it protects its most vulnerable citizens. He said 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, Khandu said more than 15,500 girls have benefited under the Dulari Kanya Scheme, with the State investing over Rs 38 crore to support higher education. He added that over 134 awareness programmes have been conducted under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, while Rs 3.3 crore has been earmarked under the Girls Health & Hygiene Scheme for 2026-27 to provide sanitary napkins to more than 25,000 beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister also 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 people 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 the child protection system, Khandu said Mission Vatsalya is providing sponsorship support to over 2,500 vulnerable children, while 2,479 children are receiving monthly assistance of Rs 4,000 under sponsorship, foster care and aftercare schemes. He also highlighted the 24x7 Child Helpline 1098, One Stop Centres in all 25 districts and Women Helpline 181 as key support mechanisms for children and women in distress.
Calling child protection a shared responsibility, Khandu urged schools, families, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, health workers, community leaders, faith-based organisations and civil society groups to work together to create a safe and nurturing environment for children.
Referring to the unique geographical and social realities of the North East, he 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 strengthen the exchange of best practices, improve implementation of child protection laws, enhance coordination in cases involving missing and trafficked children, and develop more effective responses to emerging online threats.
Urging participants to translate discussions into concrete action, Khandu said the success of the convention would ultimately be measured by meaningful improvements in the lives of children across the region.
The Chief Minister also released the North East SCPCR Convention Souvenir during the inaugural session.
The two-day convention is being chaired by Women & Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul. The inaugural ceremony was attended by Advisor to the Home Minister Mutchu Mithi, Advisor to the Women & Child Development Minister Tsering Lhamu, Tawang MLA Namgey Tsering, Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Chairperson Ratan Anya, and representatives from all North Eastern states.