Raipur
Chhattisgarh has registered a historical milestone under the ‘Child Marriage-Free India’ National Campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 August 2024. Balod has become the first district in the entire country to be officially declared child marriage-free.
The district administration has issued formal certificates to all 436 gram panchayats and nine urban local bodies in Balod.
The district has not reported a single case of child marriage in the last two years. Authorities completed document verification and all legal procedures, leading to the designation of all villages and urban bodies as child marriage-free. This unprecedented achievement positions Balod as a model for the rest of the country.
Balod District Collector Divya Umesh Mishra attributed the success to the collective participation of the administration, elected representatives, Anganwadi workers, and the community. She expressed gratitude to all panchayats and urban bodies for their active cooperation.
On the occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 75th birthday, 75 gram panchayats in Surajpur district were also declared child marriage-free. These panchayats have also recorded no cases of child marriage over the past two years. The State Government has termed this a historical achievement in social reform.
CM targets Child Marriage-Free Chhattisgarh by 2028-29
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stated the Chhattisgarh Government has accorded the highest priority to the elimination of child marriage. He announced the state aims to declare the entire state child marriage-free in a phased manner by 2028-29.
Sai said the drive is not merely a government campaign but a resolve for social change. He has expedited the process to declare panchayats and urban bodies in other districts child marriage-free. Districts that have recorded no child marriage cases in the last two years will be issued certificates soon.
Social-Government Partnership Key: Rajwade
Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade said the achievement is an inspiration not just for Chhattisgarh but for the entire country. The success in Balod proves that a deep-rooted social evil like child marriage can be eradicated through the combined efforts of the community and the government. The minister described Surajpur’s achievement as another strong step in the same direction.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) extended significant technical support to the campaign, helping strengthen awareness programmes and the monitoring mechanism.
This initiative by Chhattisgarh is being hailed as a milestone at the national level. Experts believe that if other states adopt Chhattisgarh’s model, focusing on community participation and education, the complete eradication of child marriage across the nation is possible. The State Government is now preparing to declare other districts child marriage-free in a phased manner.
The target of making all of Chhattisgarh child marriage-free by 2028-29 will take the country closer to the goal of a Child Marriage-Free India.
