Surajpur Declared Child Marriage-Free Panchayats Milestone
The Surajpur district of Chhattisgarh achieved a landmark success in 2025 by declaring 75 village panchayats as Child Marriage-Free Panchayats. This recognition came during the launch of the Healthy Women, Empowered Families campaign and National Nutrition Month. The declaration was based on the absence of any child marriage cases in these panchayats for over two years. This milestone marks the power of community engagement and government initiatives in eliminating child marriage, a deep-rooted social evil.
Background and
The campaign against child marriage in Surajpur is part of a broader state effort launched in March 2024 by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai with UNICEF’s support. The goal is to establish Chhattisgarh as a Child Marriage-Free State. Surajpur’s success is the first major outcome of this initiative. It reflects strong administrative commitment and widespread social participation. Other districts are now following suit, aiming to replicate this achievement.
Role of Awareness and Community Participation
The Women and Child Development Department led extensive awareness drives. They involved Anganwadi workers, panchayat representatives, voluntary organisations, and local communities. Regular programmes educated people about child rights and the harms of early marriage. Immediate action was taken on any reported cases. This created a shift in societal mindset favouring education and empowerment over early marriage. Parents increasingly chose schooling and health for their daughters.
Health and Nutrition Linkages
Preventing child marriage directly benefits maternal and child health. Early marriage leads to early pregnancy, which raises risks of malnutrition, anaemia, and mortality for both mother and child. By stopping child marriage, Surajpur improved health and nutrition outcomes. Longer schooling delays marriage and childbirth, resulting in safer families and better empowered women. This aligns with the Healthy Women, Empowered Families campaign’s objectives.
Expansion and Future Prospects
Following Surajpur’s success, other districts in Chhattisgarh are identifying panchayats and urban bodies with no child marriage cases in the past two years for similar recognition. The state government plans to strengthen monitoring, promote education, and maintain active community involvement. The Surajpur model demonstrates that legal measures alone are insufficient without societal support. Collective efforts can transform social attitudes and bring lasting change.
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