Ending Child Marriage Through Community Engagement

Summary

Innovation : To Prevent child marriage through awareness generation in villages

Duration : 15 days

Location : Nayagarh, Odisha

Key Stakeholders : District Magistrate, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANM), Police, Gram Panchayats, Community Members.

Brief Description

To foil the practice of child marriage, the District Administration conducted a campaign against child marriage at reputed temples, mathas and mandapas of Nayagarh to sensitize the public, priests and members of the temple to stop conducting child marriages. This campaign was conducted in reputed temples and mathas using a caravan. This caravan covered 1408 kilometres in the District. Special Gram Sabhas on ending child marriage were also conducted in Gram Panchayats on 26th January, 2018. Posters and banners were displayed in different locations using a variety of media tools. Advertisements about the prevention of child marriage in local theatre programmes, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) banners for Special Gram Sabha meetings, street plays on Pari Rath and BBBP stickers were also used to spread messages about child marriage prevention.

Factors contributing to success

The co-operation displayed by religious leaders and priests in temples, mathas and mandapas was a factor that contributed to the success of this activity. Gram Panchayat initiatives on promoting Beti Bachao Beti Padhao as a means to prevent child marriage were also noteworthy.

Outcome, Benefits & Impact

1315 people attended the sensitization programme on ending child marriage. Over 20,000 people have been sensitized on child marriage prevention. The campaigns on child marriage prevention were successfully conducted in 32 temples and mathas of Nayagarh. Special Gram Sabhas that were conducted on the prevention of child marriage were held in 194 Gram Panchayats.

Challenges and Future Prospects

The challenges in organizing sensitization programmes involve co-ordination among different Departments (like the Departments of Social Justice and Minority Affairs, Health, Education etc.) at the District level. The expansion of the sensitization programme on the prevention of child marriage in schools, colleges and tribal areas will benefit the community.

Source: Innovations under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao