YACHULI, 16 Oct: The Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR), in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD), conducted a sensitisation programme themed 'Know Your Rights - Protect Every Child' at the community hall of St John Bosco School here in Keyi Panyor District on Friday.

The programme was attended by ZPC Nabam Piju, Yachuli Assistant Commissioner Dr Mumne Borang, and ZPMs Toko Chada, Likha Teti and Khoda Lelu, besides Keyi Panyor District Students' Union president Taba Doni, heads of departments, police personnel, members of the legal fraternity, GBs, CBOs and community representatives of the district.

Welcoming the participants, CDPO (HQ) Taba Anu called for making child protection and child rights not just an idea but a moral obligation of everyone present.

APSCPCR members Niri Chongrowju and Taba Champa presided over the programme.

Chongrowju in his keynote address emphasised on the overall wellbeing of children and the protection of their rights. He also highlighted the various Acts and laws pertaining to children and their rights.

The ZPC in her speech stressed on child-friendly environment at home, school, and public places, and requested all the community leaders, frontline workers and others to "make it a mass movement to protect children and their rights for a better and prosperous society."

Assistant Commissioner Dr Borang said that "the district administration is proactive in terms of protecting the rights of children and the fight against any form of discrimination towards children at every level." She also assured the commission to make Keyi Panyor a child-friendly district.

Advocate Nani Talley delivered a detailed presentation on the JJB Act, POCSO Act, and Child Marriage and Child Labour Acts, while Sub-Inspector Padi Tado emphasised on online safety, social media misuse, cyberbullying, and internet gaming addiction among children. He asked the community to work as one and "downstream the ill-effects of social media misuse" in their respective villages.

Advocate Subu Ampi presented a brief on the legal provisions of Right to Education (RTE), school safety, and bullying, while APSCPCR member Champa spoke on mental health, emotional health, drug abuse and substance abuse among children that often goes unnoticed by parents, teachers and the communities. She also emphasised that parents and teachers should be "emotionally attentive towards their children and provide a safe environment for the holistic development of a child."

St John Bosco Principal Varghese Philip also spoke.