Yupia, Apr 16: In a bid to strengthen efforts against child marriage, the department of women and child development convened a district-level coordination meeting at the DC’s office here on Wednesday to chart a comprehensive roadmap for Papum Pare.
The meeting, chaired by Sagalee additional deputy commissioner (ADC) Tame Higio, focused on multi-stakeholder collaboration to implement the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, effectively.
Addressing the gathering, ADC Higio underscored the need to intensify awareness campaigns to educate the public on the legal and social implications of child marriage. She stressed the importance of regular counselling sessions with key stakeholders—including parents, teachers, and community leaders—to ensure a united front in preventing child marriages.
To enhance early detection, she also proposed monitoring school absenteeism patterns and referring suspicious cases to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for timely intervention.
Urging community-wide participation, Higio called on religious leaders present to leverage their influence in spreading awareness and promoting child rights.
Speaking at the meeting, SDPO Radhe Obing highlighted the significance of proactive case reporting and emphasized close coordination among stakeholders to eliminate the practice. He noted that societal mindsets must evolve to root out this social evil.
Child development project officer Tana Chamaro observed that while Papum Pare has not recorded forced child marriage cases, adolescent marriages are on the rise. She advocated counselling-based interventions and suggested involving Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the awareness drive. She also proposed aligning awareness activities with platforms such as MGNREGA meetings for broader outreach.
DCPU legal-cum-probation officer advocate Tarh Nagu gave a detailed overview of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, elaborating on its key provisions and legal enforcement mechanisms.
The meeting saw active participation from PRI members, who recommended intensified counselling and awareness initiatives at the grassroots to safeguard children’s rights and end child marriage.
