Precautionary steps have been taken to prevent child marriages this year too. The State Government is implementing lado Abhiyan throughout the year to prevent child marriages. Meetings of village-level core groups are being held from May 1 to 10. Non-government members of core groups are undertaking visits to respective areas after the meetings.
Commissioner Women’s Empowerment Kalpana Shrivastava has directed all the District Women’s Empowerment Officers to act as per action plan of lado Abhiyan.
NGO representatives and officers have been asked to visit their respective areas and keep constant watch over the situation on Akshaya Tritiya on May 13. During the visits, they will have to ensure that no child marriage takes place. District collectors have also been directed to prevent child marriages through coordination with all the departments.
It is noteworthy that an action plan has been chalked out at Women’s Empowerment Directorate to prevent child marriages. Under the action plan, core groups have been constituted at all the places.
Core groups comprise Sarpancha of Gram Panchayat, Corporator, school principal, maximum two NGO representatives, mukhiya, pandit, maulvi, father of church, granthi of gurudwara, health worker and distinguished villagers.
Core groups will keep a watch over child marriages in their respective areas and prevent them. local adolescent girls have also been connected with the campaign.
District administration will undertake efforts to prevent child marriages by counselling concerning parents. People have been urged to inform nearest police station, district collector or Women’s Empowerment Officer if they come to know of any child marriage taking place. For preventing child marriages, lists of girls and sensitive areas have been handed over to SDOPs and Janpad Panchayat CEOs, all the sarpanchas, secretaries, ward in-charges etc.