Baripada: Efforts of the state government and the rising awareness levels have succeeded in preventing many child marriages in tribal populated Mayurbhanj district.
It was learnt that in the last two years, 176 child marriages had been prevented in the district by the quick intervention of the authorities.
As per the statistics of the women and child welfare department, 176 child marriages were stopped in the district in 2017 and 2018.
Issues like child marriages, dowry, dowry deaths and rising incidents of female foeticide came up for discussion at a district-level programme in Baripada Thursday.
Collector Vineet Bhardwaj, District Child Protection Officer Mamatamayee Biswal, DSP (HRPC) Sabita Majhi, ADMO Kasturi Mishra, DWO Smrutiranjan Samantsighar and the Chairperson of the District Child Protection Committee, Krushnakalpana Mohanty, attended the programme.
Twelve minor girls who had taken brave steps to prevent their marriages with the help of officials and social activists were honoured on the occasion. They are pursuing studies now.
A team named Swayamsidhha was launched at the programme with the girls as members. The members of Swayamsidhha will be trained by the District Child Protection Unit and will describe to other children how they had prevented their child marriages. They will also raise social awareness against illegal child marriages.
“The district administration will help all girls who want to pursue higher studies,” the Collector said.
PNN
