Nayagarh: In a shocking case of child marriage, the Childline team, with the help of police, rescued a minor girl from Dengaragodi Sahi under Itamati police station limits in Nayagarh district, just before the ‘Chauthi’ ritual (fourth-day post-wedding ceremony).
The minor girl had already been married to Dilip Kumar Parida of the same village in a traditional ceremony attended by both families. The wedding rituals were completed as per Hindu tradition and custom. Preparations were underway for the Chauthi ritual when the Childline team received information and conducted a raid. The girl was successfully rescued and produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). After counselling, she has been placed in a One Stop Centre for safety and care.
According to reports, the bride hails from the Bhapur block area. The boy’s family allegedly solemnised the marriage with the consent of both sides, but the timely intervention by Childline prevented the minor from staying with the groom’s family.
What has added to the controversy is that the groom, Dilip Kumar Parida, is the son of Manjulata Dei, who works as a cook at the local Anganwadi Centre. Her role also includes spreading awareness against child marriage. , making the incident highly ironic and embarrassing for the district administration.
The Nayagarh Block CDPO has stated that a detailed inquiry will be conducted into the matter. The incident has become a major embarrassment for the district administration at a time when an Anganwadi worker responsible for preventing child marriages herself solemnised her son’s marriage with an underage girl.
