Itanagar, Aug 22: Governor Lt Gen (Retd) KT Parnaik has expressed serious concern over the increasing number of cases under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the low rate of prosecution, calling for stronger monitoring and preventive mechanisms to protect children in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Governor raised the concerns during a meeting with the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) Chairperson Ratan Anya at Lok Bhavan here on Saturday.
The Commission briefed Parnaik 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 the Northeastern states to discuss emerging challenges and strategies for protecting children.
Parnaik said the protection and well-being of children must remain a shared responsibility of the government and society. He stressed that every child should have access to a safe childhood, quality education, healthcare, protection from exploitation and equal opportunities to develop their potential.
The Governor advised the Commission to move beyond a complaint-based approach and adopt a preventive child protection framework. He called for greater focus on early identification of vulnerable children and prevention of abuse, trafficking, child labour, substance abuse, school dropouts, child marriage and cyber exploitation.
He suggested strengthening district-level monitoring and coordination among schools, Anganwadi centres, police and other law enforcement agencies, health department and community organisations.
Expressing grave concern over the rising POCSO cases, the Governor regretted the extremely low rate of prosecution and stressed the need for effective implementation and prosecution of offences under the Act.
He also called for regular and institutionalised inspections of observation homes, shelter homes, hostels and other child care facilities to ensure that children residing in such institutions are adequately protected.
Parnaik emphasised strict monitoring of the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, POCSO Act and Right to Education Act. He said periodic reviews and independent assessments were necessary to improve accountability and address gaps in the child protection system.
The Governor further called for a statewide child rights awareness campaign to address the social and digital challenges confronting children. He suggested involving schools, Panchayati Raj institutions, religious leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups and the media in spreading awareness about child protection laws, online safety, mental health, counselling and reporting mechanisms.
The APSCPCR Chairperson thanked the Governor for his guidance and assured him that the Commission would work towards strengthening child protection measures and creating a safer and more child-friendly environment in the State.
APSCPCR Members Niri Chongrowju, Honluk Lukham, Ngurang Achung and Member Secretary Yakar Dawe accompanied the Chairperson during the meeting.