The mountains of Tawang became the backdrop for something long overdue — a frank, urgent conversation about the children of North East India who are slipping through the cracks of a system that has, for too long, been working in isolation.
A Historic First — And a Wake-Up Call
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu took the stage at the North East State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR) Convention 2026 in Tawang on July 31, and didn’t mince words. This was the first time all eight North Eastern states had ever come together under one roof for child rights — and that alone says a lot about how late the conversation is. Khandu called it exactly what it is: a platform that should have existed years ago. Child trafficking, online exploitation, substance abuse, child marriage — these aren’t problems that respect state borders, and fighting them one state at a time simply hasn’t worked.
Judging a Government by Its Children
One line from Khandu’s address stands out and deserves to be repeated everywhere. He said the success of any government should not be measured by GDP figures or bridges built, but by how well it protects its most vulnerable children. That’s a bold thing to say in a political climate obsessed with development statistics. Whether it translates into policy on the ground remains to be seen — but the intent, at least, was clear and strong.
What Arunachal Is Actually Doing
Numbers matter, and Khandu came with them. The Dulari Kanya Scheme has supported over 15,500 girls in pursuing higher education, with the state investing more than Rs 38 crore. Over 134 awareness drives have been held under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao. The Girls Health & Hygiene Scheme has allocated Rs 3.3 crore for 2026–27 to supply sanitary napkins to over 25,000 beneficiaries. Under Mission Vatsalya, more than 2,500 vulnerable children are being supported, and 2,479 children are receiving a monthly assistance of Rs 4,000 through sponsorship and foster care schemes. The 24×7 Child Helpline 1098, One Stop Centres across all 25 districts, and Women Helpline 181 round out a fairly substantial safety net on paper.
Regional Unity Is the Only Real Answer
Khandu’s core message was about coordination — better sharing of information on missing and trafficked children, stronger implementation of child protection laws across state lines, and a united response to the growing threat of online exploitation targeting young people. The convention, chaired by Women and Child Development Minister Dasanglu Pul, brought together child rights commissions, national institutions, and civil society groups from across the region.
Child protection cannot be a one-state show. It never could be. And if this convention in Tawang marks the beginning of real regional solidarity, then the children of North East India may finally have something worth hoping for.
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