Itanagar: The Arunachal Pradesh cabinet has approved a series of decisions aimed at strengthening technical education, public safety, child protection and administrative efficiency in the state.
The state cabinet, which was chaired by CM Pema Khandu, on Friday (July 18) approved the adoption of Model Guidelines for Support Persons under Section 39 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, with necessary state-specific modifications.
Aimed at assisting survivors who are minors during legal proceedings, officials said the Model Guidelines for Support Persons align with a Supreme Court directive and incorporate detailed guidelines framed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
As per the approved plan, one support person will be assigned for every 10 POCSO cases. A total of 27 individuals—one for each district—will be engaged to assist the minors during the pre-trial and trial stages, ensuring both psychological and procedural support. Each support person will receive Rs 15,000 per month, calculated at Rs 500 per certified workday. The initiative will cost the state an estimated Rs 48.6 lakh annually.
According to officials, the revised framework lays out specific appointment criteria, duties, and responsibilities, and is expected to bolster the judicial experience for vulnerable survivors.
The cabinet approved 34 new teaching and non-teaching posts at the Government Engineering College in Toru, Papum Pare district.
It sanctioned the raising of the 6th Indian Reserve Battalion (IRBn), adding to the state’s existing force of two state armed police battalions and five IRBns. The new battalion is expected to improve policing, reduce dependence on Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and create jobs for local youth.
To improve transparency in public housing, the Cabinet also approved revised guidelines for the allotment of government quarters. These changes are intended to address issues related to encroachment and misuse of official accommodation.
The cabinet also approved the creation of three posts of deputy director (prosecution), 10 posts of assistant director (prosecution), and 18 posts of clerical staff in the directorate of prosecution. It also approved the revision of the pay matrix levels of public prosecutor, additional public prosecutor and assistant public prosecutor posts to maintain pay parity in line with government norms. The cabinet also approved the creation of 10 posts under the Directorate of Civil Aviation.
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Additionally, it approved the transfer of veterinary officer posts from the Rural Development Department to the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development.
