Berhampur: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 has failed in Ganjam district as frequent incidents of child marriage are being reported from various parts of the district in recent times. This comes on the backdrop of a directive issued by the Women and Child Development (W&CD) department to the district Collectors to remain vigilant about the malady.
A week-long awareness programme was undertaken by the district administration from April 17 to 23 in this regard. Although Ganjam district was declared ‘child marriage free’ January 3, 2022, the district administration prevented 331 such marriages in the district in that year only.
As per reports, the administrative team swings into action whenever it gets a report of child marriage in any area of the district. It immediately stops the marriage and convinces people about the ill effects of the practice. However, there is no let-up in such cases, said a source. Altogether 36 cases of child marriage have been prevented by the administration till March end of this year. Various programmes are being taken up through the help of voluntary organisations, self-help groups, clan societies, village welfare committees, the Mission Shakti department, public representatives, and the child welfare committee (CWC).
A program called ‘Nirbhaya Kadhi’ is being implemented in the district to prevent child marriages. It has been announced to provide an award money of Rs 50,000 to the person who gives information about child marriage. However, the malady is still prevalent, snatching away the rights of innocent children. As per sources, child marriage was foiled by the Childline team a few months ago when reports about such an incident at Rangunibandha Sahi in the Old Berhampur area came in. The Childline officials raided the spot but the families involved in the act had fled the place along with the minors as they had got the prior information about the raid. Some local intellectuals pointed out that massive awareness campaigns can be the only weapon to end the social malady of child marriage. A total of 851 child marriages have been prevented by the district administration during the last six years. Of them, the highest 331 cases were foiled in 2022, 201 cases in 2021, 228 cases in 2020, 45 in 2019, 22 in 2018, and 24 in 2017, said the report.