KAMALANAGAR, October 22, 2026: The Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) on Thursday hosted an interactive session with senior officials of the Women & Child Development Department, Government of Mizoram, and the Mizoram State Commission for Women (MSCW) at the Art & Culture Hall, Kamalanagar, to facilitate direct interaction between the visiting officials and women and other stakeholders in the CADC area.

The meeting was chaired by Dgb. Jyotsna Chakma, District Council Social Welfare Officer, CADC, and attended by Chief Executive Member (CEM) Dg. Nirupam Chakma, Councillors, CADC officers and staff, and representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The visiting delegation comprised Pi Zoramthangi Chhangte, Director of the Women & Child Development Department; Pi Flora Lalthanpuii, Deputy Director (Women) and Member Secretary of the MSCW; and Pi Vanlalchhanchhuahi, Circle Officer. CEM Nirupam Chakma felicitated the visiting officials.

Welcoming the delegation, Dgb. Jyotsna Chakma described their maiden visit to Kamalanagar as a “historic occasion” for the CADC area, as it provided an opportunity for local stakeholders to interact directly with senior State government officials responsible for women’s and child development. She expressed hope that the interaction would help identify practical measures to address local concerns.

CEM Dg. Nirupam Chakma said he had directed the concerned CADC officials to organise the programme to facilitate the interaction. He thanked the delegation for visiting Kamalanagar and assured them that the CADC Executive Committee would examine the issues raised during the meeting.

Speaking on her department’s programmes, Pi Zoramthangi Chhangte outlined the major initiatives under Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Poshan Abhiyaan, Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya. She explained that these programmes cover supplementary nutrition, child growth monitoring, maternal health, women’s empowerment and child protection.

She urged parents and community representatives to ensure that eligible children, pregnant women and lactating mothers were registered on the Poshan Tracker system to access supplementary nutrition through Anganwadi centres. She also emphasised regular attendance at the centres and monthly growth monitoring to identify nutritional deficiencies and promote healthy development.

Pi Chhangte announced that the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, had approved an additional One Stop Centre for the Chawngte area in September 2026. She acknowledged the role of CEM Dg. Nirupam Chakma in this regard, noting that during his tenure as a member of the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), he had recommended the establishment of a One Stop Centre in the Chawngte area in his tour report following his visit.

The Director said the department subsequently referred to his recommendation while pursuing the proposal with the Ministry at a Project Approval Board (PAB) meeting in New Delhi in May 2026. She expressed hope that the necessary funds for the centre would be sanctioned in 2027.

Pi Chhangte also urged the CADC authorities and other concerned stakeholders to submit a proposal for a Shakti Sadan in the Chawngte area for consideration at the next PAB meeting. She explained that a One Stop Centre provides immediate assistance to women affected by violence, while a Shakti Sadan offers longer-term shelter and rehabilitation to women in difficult circumstances who require continued support.

Highlighting the support services available to women and children, she urged the public to use the toll-free Women Helpline 181 and Child Helpline 1098 whenever assistance was required, noting that both services operate round the clock. She also spoke about the PALNA scheme, under which Anganwadi-cum-Crèches provide childcare facilities to support working mothers.

Addressing child protection, Pi Chhangte discussed the legal provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, which defines a child as a female below 18 years of age or a male below 21 years of age. Referring to the relationship between the Act and certain provisions of Chakma Customary Law, she appealed to the CEM to examine the matter and consider appropriate amendments, where necessary, to safeguard children’s rights.

Pi Flora Lalthanpuii outlined the role of the MSCW in protecting women’s rights, hearing complaints and recommending appropriate measures to the government on matters affecting women. She said the Commission conducts hearings twice a month and takes up complaints relating to property rights, divorce and related disputes. It could also take suo motu cognizance of cases involving offences against women, including sexual violence, where necessary.

Encouraging women in the CADC area to approach the Commission whenever their rights were violated or they required assistance, Pi Lalthanpuii noted that the Women Helpline 181 had received only two calls from the Chakma area over the past decade. She suggested that language barriers might be discouraging women from seeking help and urged the community to familiarise themselves with the available support mechanisms.

She also emphasised the need to implement the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, including the requirement to constitute Internal Committees at workplaces covered by the Act.

No. 73/2026-27