Odisha Launches Mobile Campaign to Combat Child Marriage Across the State
In a significant move to address the critical issue of child marriage, Odisha State Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy officially flagged off the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath from Bhubaneswar on Sunday. This mobile awareness vehicle is set to travel extensively across the state until March 8, forming a crucial component of the Central Government's intensive 100-day nationwide campaign aimed at completely eradicating the practice of child marriage.
Strategic Outreach to Remote and Marginalized Communities
The Bal Vivah Mukti Rath has been strategically designed to penetrate the most remote and marginalized communities within Odisha. To ensure maximum reach and accessibility, the campaign will utilize four-wheelers to traverse main routes, while simultaneously deploying motorcycle and cycle caravans. These smaller, more agile units will specifically target villages and areas with poor connectivity, ensuring that the vital message against child marriage reaches every corner of the state, leaving no community behind.
Government's Firm Commitment and Proactive Measures
Reaffirming the state government's unwavering commitment, Speaker Surama Padhy declared that Odisha remains firmly determined to eliminate child marriage. She highlighted several proactive steps already implemented by the state administration to strengthen the institutional framework against this social evil.
"The state has taken decisive actions, including the appointment of panchayat executive officers and hostel wardens as official child marriage prohibition officers," Padhy stated. "Furthermore, we have designated school headmasters as child marriage information officers. Our collective resolve is clear: we will make Odisha free from child marriage at the earliest possible opportunity."
In a significant legislative announcement, Padhy also revealed that she would initiate a detailed and comprehensive discussion on the issue within the state assembly. She pledged to ensure adequate time is allocated for thorough deliberation, emphasizing the importance of a multi-faceted legislative and social approach to tackle the problem.
Collaborative Efforts for Sustainable Change
The flag-off ceremony was conducted in the presence of Babita Patra, the Chairperson of the Odisha State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (OSCPCR). Patra underscored the indispensable role of sustained collaboration between various government agencies and civil society organizations in the fight to end child marriage.
"A concerted and persistent effort from all stakeholders is paramount," Patra emphasized. "Only through the combined strength of government initiatives and grassroots civil society action can we hope to bring about lasting change and completely uproot this deep-seated practice from our society."
The launch of the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath marks a pivotal moment in Odisha's ongoing battle against child marriage, symbolizing a mobile, aggressive, and inclusive push for awareness and action as part of the broader national mission.
