CURATED BY – SUSHIL SONI | CITYCHIEFNEWS

Anuppur, To bring public awareness towards prevention of child marriage, Child Marriage Free India campaign was launched through virtual medium by Union Minister of Women and Child Development Department, Smt. Annapurna Devi from Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. In this program, a portal was launched by the Government of India and a collective pledge was also taken to make India child marriage free. Necessary arrangements were ensured in Son Auditorium located in Collectorate to watch and listen to the virtual program. District Program Officer of Women and Child Development Department, Project Officer, Supervisor, Anganwadi worker, Child Welfare Officer from all the police stations of the district, representatives of voluntary organizations, religious leaders, service providers etc. were present in the program.

This program was organized under the public awareness campaign "Hum Honge Kamyaab" fortnight being organized from 25 November to 10 December 2024 for the prevention of gender-based violence. In the program, webinars and sessions were organized on the Child Marriage Prohibition Act and the legal consequences of violation of these laws to prevent child marriage.

Giving information about the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, the District Program Officer of the Women and Child Development Department said that the purpose of this law is to prevent child marriage in the society. Under this law, the marriage of a woman below 18 years of age and a man below 21 years of age is considered child marriage. Child marriage has been considered a punishable offense. Adult men who marry a child or those who solemnize child marriage can be jailed for up to two years or fined up to one lakh rupees or both. He informed that by amending this law in the year 2017, all the service providers involved in child marriage have been brought under its purview. All service providers like tent, catering, band, DJ, card printer, marriage organizers etc. or those providing any kind of service in marriage have been brought under its purview. If these service providers are involved in child marriage, then there is a provision for punishment for them too.