Campaign to end child marriage

Among the many issues that exist in Maharashtra, child marriage remains one of the most serious social problems. The Marathwada region has the highest prevalence of child marriages in the state, and Nanded district ranks ninth in Maharashtra in this regard. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), the rate of child marriage in Nanded district is 32.2%.

To eradicate child marriage, the District Women and Child Development Department, UNICEF-SBC³ Mumbai, and the District Administration have been implementing several innovative initiatives in the district for the past four years.

Brief Overview of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006

• According to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, marrying a boy below 21 years or a girl below 18 years is a criminal offense.

• The legal age for marriage is:

  • For boys: 21 years completed

  • For girls: 18 years completed

• If either the boy or the girl is below the prescribed legal age at the time of marriage, such a marriage is considered a child marriage.

District Action Plan for the Eradication of Child Marriage

A District Action Plan for the eradication of child marriage has been prepared with the joint participation of five departments:

1. Panchayat Department

2. Education Department

3. Women and Child Welfare Department (Zilla Parishad)

4. Health Department

5. District Women and Child Development Department

Punishment Provisions

A punishment of up to 2 years of rigorous imprisonment and/or a fine of up to ₹1,00,000 has been prescribed under the law.

Who Can Be Punished?

Legal action can be taken against:

• Parents and relatives of the boy or girl

• The groom (boy) himself

• Printing press owners (for printing wedding invitations)

• Marriage arrangers, caterers, marriage hall managers, temple or religious place managers

• Tent decorators, photographers

• Guests present at the marriage

• And any person who directly or indirectly assists in conducting or facilitating the child marriage

Child Marriage Prohibition Officers

For Rural Areas

• Gram Panchayat Officer (Gramsevak) – Child Marriage Prohibition Officer

• Anganwadi Sevika – Assistant Child Marriage Prohibition Officer

For Urban Areas

• Child Development Project Officer (Urban) – Child Marriage Prohibition Officer

• Anganwadi Supervisor (Mukhya Sevika) – Assistant Child Marriage Prohibition Officer

Mechanisms to Prevent Child Marriage

1. Child Marriage Prohibition Officers

2. Village/Ward Child Protection Committees

3. Police Administration

4. Child Helpline 1098

5. Taluka Child Protection Committee

6. District Child Protection Unit

7. Any responsible citizen can help stop a child marriage by calling Child Helpline 1098.

   • The identity of the informer remains confidential.

Child Marriages Prevented by the District Child Protection Unit and Child Helpline 1098

January 2023 to October 2025

Let’s Take a Pledge

“Now let’s resolve to defeat child marriage once and for all!”