Bhubaneswar : On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a high-risk period for child marriages, Humara Bachpan Trust (HBT), in collaboration with the district administrations, observed Vigilance Day against Child Marriage across Keonjhar and Kandhamal districts with the objective of building a child marriage-free society.

In Keonjhar district, awareness activities were conducted across various panchayats of Patna, Bansapala, Harichandanpur, and Hatadihi blocks to prevent child marriages and ensure timely reporting of such incidents to the authorities. The initiative focused on stopping child marriages at the grassroots level, strengthening Panchayat-level Child Protection Committees, and enhancing awareness on the roles and responsibilities of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs). More than 500 parents and community stakeholders were sensitized on the harmful impact of child marriage, the legal provisions under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and the importance of collective community action to prevent such practices.

In Kandhamal district, the programme was organized at the Block Conference Office, Phulbani, under the leadership of CDPO Smt. Baijanti Mallick, in the presence of Block Development Officer (BDO), Phulbani, Shri Sai Somyajit Patra. The programme witnessed active participation of around 120 ASHA and Anganwadi frontline workers, who were trained on identifying potential child marriage cases, tracking vulnerable children, and taking timely preventive action.

Across both districts, the programmes were conducted with the active support of government stakeholders, including CMPOs, ASHA units, Anganwadi workers, and community leaders, who reaffirmed their commitment to eliminating child marriage.

Humara Bachpan Trust has been actively working in collaboration with district administrations, panchayats, schools, and religious leaders to prevent child marriage through continuous awareness campaigns and system strengthening under the Just Rights for Children programme. Thousands of people have taken pledges against child marriage, and special prevention drives are regularly conducted during sensitive periods such as Akshaya Tritiya and the onset of wedding seasons.

Addressing the participants, representatives emphasized that child marriage is a punishable offence under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006. Any involvementincluding by families or service providers, can lead to legal action, including imprisonment, fines, or both. The critical role of frontline workers as first responders in identifying and preventing such cases was strongly highlighted.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress made, HBT’s Executive Director, Ms. Arpita Pattnaik, noted that increasing awareness at the grassroots level has led to a significant shift, with communities now actively reporting cases and the administration taking prompt action to prevent child marriages.

The programmes reinforced the message that ending child marriage requires collective action. With strengthened community vigilance and active participation of frontline workers and stakeholders, both districts are making steady progress towards becoming child marriage-free regions well before 2030.

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