Itanagar: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said that the well-being and rights of children are paramount, and the government remains committed to ensuring their safety, education, and overall development.
He made the remarks during an interactive meeting at the Civil Secretariat, where the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), led by its chairperson Ratan Anya, submitted its observations and recommendations on various child rights issues.
The Commission presented a detailed report highlighting concerns in education, health, and safety.
Anya stressed the need for the effective implementation of Section 12(1)(c) of the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009, to ensure free and compulsory elementary education for at least 25% of children from weaker sections in private unaided schools. She also called for activating the grievance redressal mechanism under Section 32 of the Act.
Expressing concern over rising cases of bullying and ragging in schools, the APSCPCR recommended framing state-specific guidelines for the mandatory establishment of Anti-Bullying Committees in all schools from the 2025-26 academic session. It further emphasized activating ‘Prahari Clubs’ in schools to prevent drug and substance abuse among children.
The Commission also raised issues concerning Children with Special Needs (CWSN), recommending the appointment of developmental pediatricians along with supporting staff for early detection and treatment of intellectual disabilities.
It proposed the establishment of Child Development Centres to ensure holistic care and development for CWSN.
Applauding the government’s recent decision to expand the Chief Minister’s Baal Seva Scheme for all registered orphan children and those in Child Care Institutions (CCIs), the APSCPCR urged the inclusion of children aged 0-3 years.
Additionally, it recommended extending the Chief Minister Arogya Arunachal Yojana (CMAAY) to CWSN by empaneling therapy centres for intellectual disabilities and exploring their inclusion under the Deen Dayal Rehabilitation Scheme to provide subsidized therapy costs.
To regulate private-run daycare centres, crèches, and pre-schools, the Commission called for state-specific guidelines. Expressing concern over increasing cases of sexual assaults on minors in hotels and commercial establishments, it recommended the mandatory digitalization of visitor tracking registers with regular police monitoring.
Addressing substance abuse among children, the APSCPCR advocated for digitized monitoring of the sale of Schedule H, H1, and X drugs in pharmacies and proposed setting up child-specific de-addiction centres under the Department of Health.
The chief minister appreciated the comprehensive report and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to child welfare. He assured that the recommendations would be examined in consultation with all relevant departments to formulate a concrete roadmap for the well-being of children in the state.
During the meeting, the Commission also presented the Child Rights and Safety Measures Calendar to the Chief Minister. The calendar, launched earlier by the Governor at the state-level POCSO workshop in August 2024, is an awareness initiative aimed at educating children through classroom activities.
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