The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has reported that it has disposed of nearly 26,000 cases and rescued over 2,300 children across India in the last six months, highlighting the persistent and widespread child protection challenges confronting the country. The figures were shared during a state-level conference held recently in Arunachal Pradesh to assess the implementation of key child rights laws. Paresh Shah, Division Head for Juvenile Justice, POCSO and special cells at NCPCR, said the numbers represent far more than administrative data. He stressed that each case “is not a mere statistic,” but the lived reality of a child and a family whose safety depends on prompt intervention by authorities. Shah said the Commission had also repatriated more than 1,000 children to their home districts during the same period, supported by newly introduced technology-driven systems that streamline rescue and rehabilitation processes.
Addressing officials, Shah said that although both the Central and state governments have shown firm commitment to safeguarding children, strong legislation on its own cannot ensure safety. Effective child protection, he noted, requires robust monitoring, wider awareness, and coordinated enforcement across agencies. Looking ahead, he highlighted the NCPCR’s focus on expanding mental health support for children, deploying artificial intelligence tools to curb Child Sexual Abuse Material, and strengthening on-ground implementation of child rights laws.
The conference also offered a detailed reality check on the situation in Arunachal Pradesh. Ratan Anya, Chairperson of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCR), presented an assessment that pointed to critical weaknesses in monitoring, reporting and enforcement mechanisms. She said recent incidents in the state had exposed serious gaps despite the presence of a strong legal framework. These include challenges in POCSO investigations, low awareness of child rights among stakeholders, inadequate action against child trafficking and child labour, weak enforcement of anti-tobacco provisions under COTPA, and poor monitoring of residential schools.
