December Target To Make Odisha’s Ganjam Free Of Child Marriage

Berhampur: The Ganjam district administration has targeted to make all villages and wards free from child marriage by December, said Leena Kumari Khes ADM, Ganjam, on Thursday.

Speaking at the district-level task force review meeting of ‘Nirbhaya Kadhi’ and ‘Mo Gelha Jhia’ at Chatrapur, Khes said the administration has been able to stop 160 child marriages in the district till August.

A total of 2042 villages, 266 wards of the urban areas and 221 panchayats have already been declared child marriage-free. This includes 1032 villages and 140 wards of the urban areas in the first phase in January last and 1010 villages, 126 wards of the urban areas and 221 panchayats in the second phase.

The ADM urged the officers to wipe out child marriage and said, “The students of the schools should take pledge not to follow and support child marriage. The incentive programme for the girls who marry after attaining the age of 18 needs to be publicised further.”