Koraput: In a significant intervention, the Koraput district administration successfully prevented a child marriage in Mali Marua village under Renga Panchayat of Semiliguda block on Tuesday. The timely action by officials saved a 16-year-old girl from being married off to a 22-year-old man from the same village on Wednesday.
The operation was led by District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Rajashree Das, who acted swiftly upon receiving a tip-off about the impending marriage. A team comprising Legal Observer Ranjita Sahu, Childline representative Tapaswini Padhi, Supervisor Namita Nayak, Anganwadi worker Bimala Pangi from NGO Sova, and ASI of Semiliguda police station rushed to the village to intervene.
Upon arrival, the officials examined the wedding card and verified the girl’s age using her Aadhaar card, which confirmed she was only 16 years old. Under Indian law, the marriage of a minor is illegal and invalid. However, the villagers initially resisted the intervention, hiding the girl from the team.
The situation grew tense as the girl’s father and the groom were taken to the police SUV for questioning. Officials insisted that the minor be presented before the administration. After several hours of negotiations, the villagers finally agreed to hand over the girl, following which the detained persons were released.
The rescued girl was taken to Koraput and produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC). She has since been placed in a shelter home run by NGO Sova, as confirmed by DCPO Rajashree Das.
This intervention followed four days of relentless efforts by the Anganwadi worker, who had tried to convince the families to call off the marriage. However, the families remained adamant, prompting the administration to step in.
DCPO Rajashree Das emphasized the importance of such efforts and called for continued vigilance by Anganwadi workers, CDPOs, supervisors, and other officials to prevent child marriages in the future. “This case highlights the need for community awareness and strict enforcement of laws to protect children from such practices,” she said.
The incident has drawn attention to the persistent issue of child marriages in rural areas and the critical role of grassroots workers and administration in combating this social evil.
