Madhya Pradesh Government will launch an intensive campaign to prevent child marriages this year. Directives have been issued to district collectors to chalk out an advance action plan and strategy to prevent child marriages firmly by launching a campaign.
Commissioner Women’s Empowerment Kalpana Shrivastava has directed district collectors to keep a close watch over mass marriage functions to be held on Akshaya Tritiya.
She said that child marriage is still a problem in society. MP Government has launched lado Abhiyan to prevent child marriages. Detailed directives and guidelines have already been issued to district collectors under lado Abhiyan for preventing child marriages. Special vigil will have to be maintained on Akshaya Tritiya since there are chances of child marriages on the occasion.
Directives have been given to collectors to give top priority to prevention of child marriages by ensuring participation of all government departments. The Commissioner has also urged to provide list of girls below the age of 18 years to all Zila Panchayat CEOsand all sarpanchas.
She said that special watch should be maintained over parents of girls included in these lists and accountability should be fixed for preventing child marriages.
Shrivastava has directed collectors to ensure after Akshaya Tritiya once again whether any child marriage has occurred in their districts.
She said that orientation of all public representatives, religious representatives and distinguished persons should be undertaken for prevention of child marriages.
Immediate action should be taken if information of child marriage is received. For this, collectors should issued directives to the subordinate staff.