Governor Raises Concern Over Growing POCSO Cases and Low Prosecution Rate
Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik urged APSCPCR to strengthen preventive child protection, institutional monitoring and awareness efforts amid concern over rising POCSO cases and low prosecution.
ITANAGAR- ArunachalPradesh Governor Lt Gen KT Parnaik has expressed grave concern over the growing number of cases registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the extremely low rate of prosecution, while calling for a stronger preventive child protection system across the State.
The Governor made the observations during a meeting with the Chairperson and members of the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) at Lok Bhavan, Itanagar, on August 22.
The most significant message from the meeting was the Governor’s call to move child protection beyond a complaint-based approach towards prevention and early intervention. He advised the APSCPCR to focus on identifying vulnerable children before they become victims of abuse, exploitation or other rights violations.
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The Governor said the well-being of children must remain a collective responsibility of both society and the government. He stressed that every child deserves a safe childhood, quality education, good health, protection from exploitation and equal opportunities to realise their potential.
Parnaik urged the State Commission to function as a vigilant watchdog for child rights while also acting as a catalyst for building a child-friendly Arunachal Pradesh. He emphasised that the Commission’s work should focus not only on responding to complaints but also on preventing violations.
The Governor identified several areas requiring greater attention, including child abuse, trafficking, child labour, substance abuse, school dropouts, child marriage and cyber exploitation. He called for stronger district-level monitoring and closer coordination among schools, Anganwadi centres, law enforcement agencies, health departments and community organisations.
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Expressing particular concern over POCSO cases, the Governor stressed the need for effective prosecution of offences under the Act. He also called for stronger monitoring of Child Care Institutions and implementation of child protection laws.
A key recommendation was to institutionalise regular inspections of observation homes, shelter homes, hostels and other child care facilities. The Governor further emphasised strict monitoring of the implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act, the POCSO Act and the Right to Education Act.
He suggested that periodic reviews and independent assessments should be undertaken to improve accountability and identify systemic gaps in the child protection system.
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The Governor also highlighted the growing social and digital challenges faced by children and called for a broad-based Child Rights Awareness Movement across Arunachal Pradesh. He said an informed and vigilant society is an important safeguard for children.
He encouraged the APSCPCR to launch a statewide child rights literacy campaign involving educational institutions, Panchayati Raj institutions, religious leaders, youth organisations, civil society groups and the media.
The proposed awareness efforts, according to the Governor, should cover child protection laws, online safety, mental health, counselling services and reporting mechanisms, with outreach extending to villages as well as urban areas.
The APSCPCR Chairperson had earlier briefed the Governor on the outcomes of the 2-Day North East SCPCRs Convention on Child Rights, held at Tawang on July 31 and August 1, 2026. The convention brought together child rights institutions from across the northeastern states to discuss emerging challenges, best practices and collaborative approaches to protecting children’s rights and welfare.
The Chairperson thanked the Governor for his guidance and assured him that the Commission would work towards implementing his suggestions for a safer, more inclusive and child-friendly environment in Arunachal Pradesh.
APSCPCR members Niri Chongrowju, Honluk Lukham, Ngurang Achung and Member Secretary Yakar Dawe accompanied the Chairperson during the meeting.
