Lok Sabha Question No. 3549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Child Marriage Cases
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Prabha Mallikarjun

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN-STARRED QUESTION NO. 3549 TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026

## CHILD MARRIAGE CASES

## 3549. DR. PRABHA MALLIKARJUN:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether incidents of child marriage and child labour remain widespread despite statutory prohibitions, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether enforcement of the said prohibition at district and panchayat levels is effective, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether recent  inspections  have  resulted  in  prosecutions  and  rehabilitation,  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (d) whether vulnerable communities are being adequately protected, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the roadmap exists for complete eradication?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) to (e)   The Government of India has enacted The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) and the Child  and  Adolescent  Labour  (Prohibition  and  Regulation)  Act,  1986  to prohibit child marriage and child labour and to take punitive action against violations.

As per Section 17A of the Child and Adolescent Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, powers and duties are conferred on the District Magistrate for effective implementation of the provisions of the Act. District Magistrates designate their subordinates as District Nodal Officers (DNOs) for exercising such powers within their local limits. Further, Section 17B provides for periodic inspection and monitoring of the implementation of the Act. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has also issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to serve as a ready reckoner for enforcement agencies and other stakeholders.

Further, Section 16 of the PCMA authorises the State Government to appoint for the whole State, or such part thereof as may be specified, an officer or officers to be known as the 'Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs)' having jurisdiction over the area or areas specified in the notification. This section also specifies the functions to be discharged by CMPOs, which include preventing solemnisation of child marriages by taking such action as they may deem fit; to collect evidence for the effective prosecution of persons contravening the provisions of the  Act;  to  advise  the  individuals  or  counsel  the  residents  of  the  locality  not  to  indulge  in promoting,  helping,  aiding  or  allowing  the  solemnisation  of  child  marriages;  to  create awareness about the ill effects of child marriages; and to sensitize the community on the issue of child marriages. All these authorities function under the direct administrative control and supervision of respective State Governments and UT Administrations.

To strengthen implementation and accelerate progress towards elimination of child marriage, the Government launched the national campaign 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' on 27th November 2024 with the objective of making India child-marriage-free through a whole of government and whole of society approach. The campaign focuses on awareness generation, community mobilisation, strengthening the role and capacity of CMPOs, encouraging timely reporting of cases,  and identifying girls at risk of child marriage to  ensure their  education, skilling and empowerment.

Further, to commemorate the success and intensify efforts, a 100 Days Special Campaign under the  Bal  Vivah  Mukt Bharat initiative  was  launched  on  4th  December 2025. The campaign includes  targeted  outreach  to  institutions,  community  leaders  and  service  providers  and mandates uploading details of CMPOs on the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Portal. The campaign is implemented in thematic spells focusing on educational institutions, engagement with religious and marriage-related service providers, and mobilisation of Gram Panchayats and Municipal Wards to declare their jurisdictions child-marriage-free.

A dedicated digital platform, the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Portal (https://stopchildmarriage.wcd.gov.in), facilitates reporting of child marriage incidents, dissemination  of  information  and  registration  of  pledges.  As  on  09.03.2026,  awareness programmes have reached over 11.81 crore citizens, and more than 40 lakh pledges against child marriage have been registered on the portal. The portal also serves as a repository of over 66,000 CMPOs across States and Union Territories up to Gram Panchayat level, enabling early reporting and timely intervention.

The Government is also implementing the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) component under Mission  Shakti,  launched  on  22nd  January  2015,  which  aims  to  address  gender-based discrimination  and  promote  the  empowerment  of  the  girl  child.  Awareness  campaigns  and outreach activities are also undertaken by institutions such as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) and the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), which provides free legal aid through helpline 15100.

In addition, the Child Helpline (1098) provides a 24x7 toll-free emergency outreach service for children in distress, including cases  relating to  child marriage, in coordination with police, CMPOs  and  District  Child  Protection  Units.  The  Child  Helpline  is  integrated  with  the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112) for round-the-clock emergency response. The  Women  Helpline  (181)  is  also  available  to  provide  emergency  and  non-emergency assistance.

Through these legal provisions, enforcement mechanisms, community mobilisation initiatives and awareness campaigns, the Government, in coordination with States and UTs and other stakeholders,  is  pursuing  a  comprehensive  roadmap towards the progressive elimination of child marriage and child labour in the country.

While the Ministry of Women and Child Development provides policy and schematic support, the responsibility to prohibit and prevent child marriages lies primarily with the respective State Governments and Union Territory Administrations, as 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State  subjects  under  the  Constitution,  making  them  competent  to  act  against  such  offences under existing law.

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