Kumar Bahukhandi
In Short
*Chhattisgarh creates history under the Child Marriage-Free India campaign
*Balod becomes the country’s first child marriage-free district; 75 panchayats of Surajpur also join the list
Raipur: Under the “Child Marriage-Free India” national campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 27, 2024, Chhattisgarh has achieved a historic milestone. Balod district has become the first district in the country to be officially declared child marriage-free. All 436 gram panchayats and 09 urban bodies of Balod district have been formally issued certificates.
Balod sets a national example
In the past two years, not a single case of child marriage has been reported from Balod district. After verification of documents and completion of the legal process, all panchayats and urban bodies of the district have now been awarded child marriage-free status. With this unprecedented achievement, Balod has become a model for the entire nation.
Balod District Collector Smt. Divya Umesh Mishra said that this achievement is the result of collective participation by the administration, public representatives, Anganwadi workers, and the community. She also extended her gratitude to all panchayats and urban bodies for their active cooperation in this effort.
75 gram panchayats of Surajpur also child marriage-free
On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, 75 gram panchayats of Surajpur district were declared child marriage-free. No case of child marriage has been reported from these panchayats in the past two years. The state government has described this as a historic achievement in the direction of social reform.
Child marriage elimination is not just a government campaign but a pledge for social change – CM Sai
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said that the Chhattisgarh government has given top priority to the elimination of child marriage. “Our goal is to gradually declare the entire state child marriage-free by 2028-29. This is not just a government campaign but a pledge for social change,” the CM said. He added that the process of declaring other districts’ panchayats and urban bodies child marriage-free has also been accelerated. In districts where no case of child marriage has been reported in the last two years, certificates will be issued soon.
Elimination of child marriage possible through partnership of society and government – Women & Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade
Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Laxmi Rajwade described this achievement as an inspiration not only for Chhattisgarh but for the entire country. She said that Balod’s success proves that if society and the government work together, social evils like child marriage can be eradicated from the roots. The achievement of Surajpur, she added, is also a strong step in this direction. She further highlighted the significant support of UNICEF in this campaign. The organization has provided technical assistance, strengthened awareness programs, and monitoring mechanisms.
Chhattisgarh’s initiative is being considered a milestone at the national level. This achievement in accelerating the “Child Marriage-Free India” campaign will serve as an inspiration for other states. Experts believe that if efforts are made with community participation and education at the core, as in Chhattisgarh, it is possible to completely eliminate the social evil of child marriage from the country.
The state government is now preparing to declare other districts child marriage-free in a phased manner. The target of making the entire Chhattisgarh child marriage-free by 2028-29 will not only bring the state but also the country closer to realizing the dream of a Child Marriage-Free India.
