Punjab News Daily
Zirakpur, May 17

The highly anticipated PRARAMBH: India Early Childhood Excellence Summit and Awards 2026 concluded successfully at Holiday Inn, Ambala Highway, Zirakpur. Organised by the Confederation for Quality in Early Childhood Care and Education (CQ-ECCE) in association with the Association of Indian Principals (AIP), the summit emerged as a significant platform for leadership, knowledge-sharing, and quality enhancement in early childhood education.

The event brought together government dignitaries, legal experts, educators, and industry leaders to deliberate on early education reforms, women leadership, and child safety frameworks.

A key session titled “A Candid Conversation on Early Education, Child & Women Safety and Punjab Government’s Key Initiatives & Reforms” featured Keshav Hingonia (IAS), Special Secretary, and Amarjit Singh Bhullar, Deputy Director, Social Security and Women & Child Development Department, Government of Punjab. The speakers highlighted upcoming reforms and structural measures aimed at ensuring safer environments for children and women.

Another major panel discussion focused on the issue of lack of regulatory laws for preschools in India. Chaired by Gurpreet Kaur, Director of the Association of Indian Principals, the discussion featured former IAS officer Vivek Atrey and criminal lawyer Krishan Kumar Mehta, who spoke about the gaps in the legal framework governing early preschool education.

The summit also focused on child protection, safety, health, and holistic development. Experts including Suman Shreedhar, Harleen Bakshi, Poonam Ahluwalia, and Dr Tarlochan Singh shared insights on child wellbeing and behavioural health.

A separate session on women leadership and empowerment featured speakers such as Sakshi Katyal, Chairperson of CII IWN, who highlighted the growing role of women leaders in transforming the education sector.

Educators and industry experts including Julie Wickham of Bedford School, Mohali, Atul Lakhotia, Founder of HelloParent, and Ajit Singh Ahluwalia, Founder of Smart Books India, discussed ways to improve preschool infrastructure, modern teaching tools, and vendor management systems.

The summit also witnessed international participation with Sunita Krishnan, Regional Director of the Canadian Education Council – Global Affairs Canada, sharing global perspectives on early childhood education.

Speaking on the occasion, Anubhavv Arora, Executive Chairman of CQ-ECCE, and Amandeep Singh Paapi, Founder and Group CEO of DAWK Media Network, reiterated their mission of “Building Safe Futures, Together.”

The event concluded with the India Early Childhood Excellence Awards, honouring institutions, principals, and educators for their contribution towards creating safe and nurturing learning environments for children.