The Arunachal Pradesh Police has launched Muskaan 2.0 in East Siang district, expanding its flagship child protection initiative by actively involving parents and teachers in efforts to strengthen child safety and protection mechanisms.
Announcing the second phase, Arunachal Pradesh Home Minister Mama Natung said the success of the first phase highlighted the effectiveness of coordinated efforts involving the police, educational institutions and local communities.
He said the initial phase reached nearly 16,897 students across 104 schools, helping raise awareness and equip children with the knowledge to protect themselves. Natung also acknowledged actor and Child Safety Ambassador Chum Darang for supporting the initiative.
The minister said Muskaan 2.0 would build on those achievements by extending awareness and sensitisation programmes to parents and teachers, recognising their crucial role in ensuring children’s safety.
The first phase, implemented between October 2025 and March 2026 under the Police Ki Pathshala outreach programme, included structured sessions on child rights, bodily autonomy, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, cyber safety and anti-bullying measures.
According to an official report, the programme delivered measurable results. Police installed 104 Child Safety Complaint Boxes in participating schools, leading to the resolution of 45 non-POCSO complaints through counselling and intervention. Regular school visits also helped identify and register three POCSO cases, enabling legal action.
The initiative received appreciation from the Arunachal Pradesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (APSCPCR) for its contribution to child safety. It also strengthened institutional capacity by providing police personnel with 10 specialised training sessions on child-friendly policing.
As part of the programme, students visited Ane’s Home, a child-friendly facility at the Women Police Station, and were introduced to emergency response systems, including Dial 112, Childline 1098 and the Police Control Room.
East Siang Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba said Muskaan 2.0 would focus on building a stronger support network around children by educating parents and teachers about their legal responsibilities and role in child protection.
The second phase will use Parent-Teacher Meetings (PTMs) as a platform for awareness programmes, organise dedicated capacity-building sessions for teachers and ensure regular monitoring of Child Safety Complaint Boxes in schools to facilitate timely grievance redressal.
