Over 13,500 Odisha Villages Declared Child-Marriage-Free

Bhubaneswar, Apr 12: In a significant step towards safeguarding child rights and promoting gender equality, the Odisha Government has declared 13,563 villages across 23 districts as “child-marriage-free,” officials said on Friday.

This milestone reflects the state’s sustained and multi-pronged efforts to eliminate child marriage through preventive strategies, legal enforcement, and community-driven initiatives. Despite progress, officials acknowledged that child marriage remains a pressing concern, particularly due to deep-rooted social norms, poverty, and gender inequality that continue to affect adolescent girls.

The state’s approach is anchored in a robust legal and policy framework that aligns national laws with state-specific interventions. These measures recognize child marriage as a violation of fundamental rights, especially the rights of girls to education, health, and protection from exploitation.

A cornerstone of this initiative is the declaration of “Child Marriage-Free Villages.” Far from being symbolic, these recognitions highlight tangible progress achieved through grassroots-level action. Awareness campaigns, stakeholder engagement, and strengthened child protection mechanisms have played a critical role in transforming communities.

Officials emphasized that the strategy combines data-driven interventions with strong community participation. Vulnerable areas are identified and targeted with focused programmes, ensuring that preventive measures are both effective and sustainable.

Districts such as Ganjam district, which has recorded 3,309 child-marriage-free villages, and Gajapati district with 1,510 such villages, have emerged as leading examples. Their success demonstrates the impact of administrative commitment coupled with active community mobilisation.

The legal age for marriage in India is 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. Any marriage conducted below these ages is classified as child marriage and is punishable under law.

The government reiterated that these achievements mark an important milestone in its mission to eradicate child marriage. By fostering awareness, empowering communities, and strengthening institutional mechanisms, Odisha continues to move towards ensuring a safer, healthier, and more empowered future for every child.