DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is making continuous efforts to eradicate the social evil of child marriage from the state. Sharing this information, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that proactive interventions and sustained awareness drives by the government have started delivering encouraging results in this direction.

Dr. Baljit Kaur informed that from January 2024 to December 2024, a total of 42 child marriages were successfully prevented by timely action of the department, while 16 more cases were stopped between January 2025 and March 2025. In the last 15 months, a total of 58 child marriage incidents have been averted in Punjab.

The Minister stated that this significant achievement reflects the firm commitment of the Punjab Government towards safeguarding children's rights and securing their future. She reiterated that child marriage is a serious social malpractice, and stringent preventive measures are being undertaken to eliminate this tradition from the state.

She further informed that a dedicated Child Helpline 1098 is functional round-the-clock in Punjab, through which any citizen can confidentially report incidents of child marriage, child abuse, or exploitation. To further strengthen community participation, the identity of the informant is kept completely confidential. Alongside this, information regarding such incidents can also be immediately shared with the Principals of the Senior Secondary Government Schools of the respective villages and the Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), who have been designated as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), to ensure prompt action.

Dr. Baljit Kaur emphasized that any parents or individuals involved in conducting or promoting child marriage are liable for strict legal action as per the law. She asserted that childhood is meant for building a child's future, and marrying them at a young age amounts to tampering with their prospects ? an act that will not be tolerated in any form. The Minister further said that the government is launching special awareness campaigns during marriage seasons to prevent child marriages. These campaigns will soon be initiated at both district and village levels to ensure strict prevention of such cases.

Dr. Baljit Kaur appealed to teachers, ASHA workers, sarpanches, NGOs, and aware citizens of the state to cooperate with the government in eliminating child marriage from society and contribute towards building a progressive and safe Punjab for every child.

(editor@dailyworld.in)