PASIGHAT, 25 Sep: The East Siang Women & Child Development (WCD) Department organised the inaugural session of 'Aangan Ka Utsav' as part of Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026, alongside a stakeholder coordination meeting under Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti, here on Friday.

The event was attended by Deputy Commissioner Sonalika Jiwani, Rani ZPM Taying Tapak, and PMC Chief Councillor Tagom Padung, among others.

The programme commenced with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the DC, accompanied by Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba and other dignitaries.

Addressing the participants, ICDS Deputy Director MT Padung highlighted the objectives of Aangan Ka Utsav in promoting child health and nutrition. She emphasised the critical need to bridge inter-departmental coordination gaps to ensure seamless execution of welfare initiatives under Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti across the district.

To facilitate smoother inter-agency communication, she proposed the creation of a dedicated multi-departmental WhatsApp group for key stakeholders.

Addressing the gathering, the superintendent of police outlined ongoing efforts by the Police Department - including the special juvenile police unit and the women police station - to ensure the safety and security of women and children in the district. The SP assured of 24x7 support and seamless cooperation from the police force.

Contributions and actionable insights were also shared by heads of departments and representatives, including the DMO, DDSE, district labour officer, superintendent of SEED CCI, CA One-Stop Centre (OSC), and PO/LPO of the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU).

All participating departments pledged enhanced inter-agency collaboration going forward.

In her keynote address, Jiwani commended the WCD Department for bringing all key stakeholders onto a single platform, and urged all line departments to operate in unison, emphasising that collaborative inter-departmental action is vital to resolving field-level challenges and delivering effective services in the best interest of children. (DIPRO)