Kumar Bahukhandi
IN Short
- The Transformed Landscape of Thousands of Panchayats
- The ‘Child Marriage-Free Chhattisgarh’ Campaign Emerges as a Model of Social Change
Raipur: Launched with a focus on the safety, education, and dignity of daughters in Chhattisgarh, the ‘Child Marriage-Free Chhattisgarh’ campaign is now evolving into a significant exemplar of social transformation.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the state government has ensured that this campaign remains not merely a government scheme, but rather a broad-based movement driven by public participation. Through awareness-building and social engagement at the village level, concrete and consistent results are emerging in the effort to effectively curb social evils such as child marriage.
Initiated on March 10, 2024, the campaign aims not only to prevent child marriages but also to foster a positive societal mindset regarding daughters.
Under the guidance of the Minister for Women and Child Development, Lakshmi Rajwade, Anganwadi workers, Panchayat representatives, teachers, Mitanins (community health workers), and women’s self-help groups are continuously engaged in raising awareness among the public at the grassroots level.
Consequently, the campaign is now seen transcending the scope of a mere administrative program to become an integral part of the collective social consciousness.
The state government has set a target to make the entirety of Chhattisgarh child marriage-free by the year 2028-29. Under a phased implementation plan, preparations are underway to declare 40 percent of the state child marriage-free by 2025-26, 60 percent by 2026-27, 80 percent by 2027-28, and all Gram Panchayats and Urban Local Bodies by 2028-29. The progress of the campaign thus far has been encouraging.
As of March 31, 2026, out of the state’s 11,693 Gram Panchayats, 7,498 have been declared child marriage-free—accounting for approximately 64 percent of the total Panchayats.
Similarly, out of the 196 Urban Local Bodies, 85 have successfully joined this category.
Achieving a monumental milestone in this endeavor, the Balod district of the state has successfully declared itself completely free from child marriage. This success—attained through the collaborative efforts of the administration and society—is now serving as an inspiration for other districts.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai consistently conveys the message that educated and self-reliant daughters constitute the strong foundation of a developed Chhattisgarh. Guided by this vision, the government is prioritising the implementation of schemes focused on the education, health, nutrition, and safety of girls.
Early marriage disrupts girls’ education, heightens health-related risks, and curtails their future prospects. For this very reason, the ongoing campaign focuses on continuously raising awareness among adolescent girls and their parents, aiming to bring about lasting social transformation.
Thanks to an effective model involving Panchayat-based public participation, continuous monitoring, and social awareness, the “Child Marriage-Free Chhattisgarh” campaign is now becoming a subject of discussion at the national level.
This initiative by the state government is not merely limited to eradicating a social evil; rather, it is emerging as a comprehensive pledge toward the dignity and empowerment of daughters.
The Writer is Deputy Director, Chhattisgarh Public Relations
