Bhopal, April 6 – Ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, the Madhya Pradesh government has intensified efforts to prevent child marriages, issuing detailed directives for strict vigilance during mass marriage ceremonies scheduled for April 20.
The Madhya Pradesh Department of Women and Child Development, in a press note issued on Monday, stated that it has directed all district collectors to launch a comprehensive statewide campaign against child marriage.
“This initiative is part of the Centre’s ‘Child Marriage-Free India’ campaign, led by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, which aims to eliminate child marriage and empower adolescent girls,” it stated.
According to data from the National Family Health Survey, Madhya Pradesh has recorded a decline in child marriages in recent years.
However, officials note that the problem persists in certain districts, particularly during culturally significant occasions like Akshaya Tritiya, when large-scale community marriage ceremonies are organized.
To address this, authorities have been instructed to maintain heightened surveillance across both rural and urban areas. Special monitoring teams will be deployed to verify the age of brides and grooms participating in mass marriage events and ensure compliance with legal provisions.
As part of preventive measures, students in schools and colleges will be made aware of the harmful consequences of early marriage.
“On April 20, elected representatives, including Sarpanchs, ward councillors, and Panchayat secretaries, will take a public pledge to prevent child marriages, with the message widely publicized at Panchayat and ward offices,” it said.
At the grassroots level, women from Self-Help Groups will conduct group discussions to counsel families against underage marriages.
With the support of Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, Gram Kotwars, and Panchayat officials, a list of girls below 18 years of age will be prepared, and their families will be regularly counselled and monitored.
The government has also directed officials to widely publicize helpline numbers 181, 1098, and 112, along with the online portal for reporting child marriage cases.
Information teams comprising teachers, health workers, and community representatives will be formed in every village and ward to keep a close watch, it stated.