Anti-Child Marriage Campaign To Be Launched In Odisha Capital

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Bhubaneswar: A campaign against child marriage will be launched by Ruchika Social Service Organisation in Odisha capital on October 16 following a call given by Nobel laureate Kailash Satyarthi.

The campaign is being organised in association with state’s Women and Child Development and School and Mass Education departments, Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Right (OSCPCR), Commissionerate Police and other NGOs.

On this occasion, a mass rally will be taken out from Master Canteen square to Ram Mandir square in the morning, while human chain with candle march will be organised in the evening, CEO of Ruchika Social Service Organisation and Director of CHILDLINE, Dr Benudhar Senapati said.

Odisha’s School and Mass Education Minister Samir Ranjan Dash, Women and Child Development Minister Basanti Hemrum, OSCPCR Cheirperson Mandakini Kar and a host of distinguished personalities are expected to participate in the campaign, he said.

Dubbing child marriage as an age-old practice that denies children their basic rights, Senapati lamented that despite the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, more than 23 per cent girls are marrying before attaining the age of 18 years in the country.

Therefore, on the clarion call of Kailash Satyarthi, the anti-child marriage campaign is being launched in all the states, he added.