📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Women and Child Development
Crime
Panel calls for stronger child‑protection network to boost POCSO implementation in Meghalaya
✍️ Hub News
🗓 08 Sep 2026, 05:23 AM
👁 7
A panel reviewing the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Meghalaya said the state needs a more robust child‑protection framework to ensure effective implementation.
A recent panel assessment highlighted that Meghalaya's current mechanisms for enforcing the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act are insufficient. The experts argued that a stronger, coordinated child‑protection network is essential to address gaps in reporting, investigation and support services for victims.
The panel emphasized that without an integrated system linking law‑enforcement, health services and child‑welfare agencies, the objectives of the POCSO Act cannot be fully realized. It called for the state government to allocate resources and develop clear protocols that streamline case handling and ensure timely assistance to affected children.
Stakeholders were urged to collaborate on capacity‑building initiatives, including training for police and judicial officers, as well as awareness programmes for communities. The panel's recommendations aim to create a more responsive environment that safeguards children from sexual offences across Meghalaya.
The panel emphasized that without an integrated system linking law‑enforcement, health services and child‑welfare agencies, the objectives of the POCSO Act cannot be fully realized. It called for the state government to allocate resources and develop clear protocols that streamline case handling and ensure timely assistance to affected children.
Stakeholders were urged to collaborate on capacity‑building initiatives, including training for police and judicial officers, as well as awareness programmes for communities. The panel's recommendations aim to create a more responsive environment that safeguards children from sexual offences across Meghalaya.