ITANAGAR, Oct 14: Home Minister Mama Natung and Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul on Wednesday called for greater inter-departmental coordination, innovation and accountability to strengthen welfare programmes and improve service delivery to women and children across Arunachal Pradesh.
Addressing the Chintan Shivir 2026, organised by the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) at the DK State Convention Centre here, the ministers stressed the need to translate government policies into tangible outcomes, particularly for vulnerable communities in remote areas.
Held under the theme “Transforming Service Delivery Through Convergence, Innovation and Accountability”, the programme brought together commissioners, secretaries and officials from the departments of Health, Education, Home and Skill Development, along with other stakeholders.
Natung emphasised that sound planning, constructive dialogue and coordinated implementation were essential to ensuring that government policies delivered meaningful benefits to the people. He underscored the need for cooperation among departments to address challenges related to women and child welfare and improve the effectiveness of government initiatives.
The home minister also congratulated the recipients of the State Poshan Awards, recognising their contributions to improving nutrition and the well-being of women and children.
Pul, meanwhile, said the safety, nutrition, education, dignity and empowerment of women and children must remain central to the state's development agenda. She identified convergence, innovation and accountability as key priorities for ensuring that welfare initiatives effectively reach their intended beneficiaries.
She reiterated the state government's commitment to strengthening the implementation of flagship schemes, including Mission Shakti, Mission Vatsalya, Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
The minister said the success of welfare programmes should be measured not merely by the number of schemes implemented or funds sanctioned, but by the positive changes they bring to people's lives.
The deliberations covered child protection, foster care, women's empowerment and nutrition, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to social welfare. An animated awareness video on the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was also launched to promote awareness about child protection.
The State Poshan Awards were presented in various categories to recognise contributions towards improving nutritional outcomes and community welfare.
Acknowledging the role of Anganwadi workers, helpers and other frontline functionaries, particularly those serving in remote and difficult areas, Pul called for collective responsibility among government departments and stakeholders.
She stressed that coordinated efforts were necessary to ensure that no woman was deprived of support, no child was denied care and protection, and no vulnerable family remained beyond the reach of welfare services.
Pul reiterated the government's commitment to building a healthier, safer and more inclusive Arunachal Pradesh through effective implementation of welfare programmes.