Over 8,100 Child Marriages Reported in Odisha in Six Years, Assembly Informed

Bhubaneswar: Despite ongoing awareness campaigns and stringent legal measures, Odisha has recorded over 8,100 child marriages in the last six years, the Odisha Assembly was informed on Saturday.

In a written response to a question raised by BJD MLA Badri Narayan Patra, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida, who also holds the Women and Child Development portfolio, revealed that 8,159 child marriage cases have been registered in the state since 2019.

Nabarangpur, Ganjam, and Koraput Among Worst Affected

According to district-wise data shared in the Assembly, Nabarangpur district recorded the highest number of cases with 1,347 incidents, followed by Ganjam (966 cases) and Koraput (636 cases). These figures highlight the prevalence of the social evil, particularly in tribal and rural belts of the state.

Government’s Efforts to Curb Child Marriages

The state government has been actively working to curb child marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 through various initiatives, including:

• Awareness Campaigns: Regular drives at block and Anganwadi levels, with quarterly meetings at block and gram panchayat levels.
• Special Campaigns: Targeted awareness drives on occasions like Akshaya Tritiya, a time when child marriages see a surge.
• Strict Law Enforcement: Strengthened implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, across all districts.
• Appointment of Officers: Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), Panchayat Executive Officers, and hostel wardens/matrons have been designated as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers to monitor and report cases.
• Involvement of Schools: Principals under the School and Mass Education Department and Higher Education Department have been designated as Child Marriage Information Officers to ensure reporting and prevention.
• Regular Monitoring: A state-level PCMA (Prohibition of Child Marriage Act) committee holds biannual meetings to assess and strengthen child marriage prevention strategies.

State’s Fight Against Child Labour

In addition to tackling child marriage, the Odisha government is also working to eliminate child labour. According to the Labour Commissioner’s office, 328 child labourers have been rescued since 2019.

The government has introduced several key initiatives to combat child labour, including:

• Legal Action: 159 cases have been filed under the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, against employers engaging children in hazardous work.
• Interdepartmental Coordination: A state-level policy is being implemented in collaboration with nine government departments to track and rescue child labourers.
• Training for Law Enforcement: District Labour Officers and police personnel are being trained to strengthen enforcement of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986.
• Community Awareness: Public campaigns in partnership with stakeholders and NGOs to eradicate child labour.

Despite policy interventions and awareness programs, child marriage and child labour remain pressing social challenges in Odisha. The state government is now focusing on strengthening grassroots monitoring, community involvement, and stricter enforcement of laws to ensure the safety and well-being of children across the state.