By Special Correspondent
Bhopal: Serious concerns have emerged over the state of child protection mechanisms in Madhya Pradesh after former minister and Raghogarh MLA Jaivardhan Singh raised a question in the Assembly regarding the rise in child marriage cases involving minor girls. According to the data presented in the government’s reply, incidents of child marriage have steadily increased between 2020 and 2025, despite the practice being completely prohibited.
Singh criticised the functioning of the government and the Women and Child Development Department, noting that despite large financial allocations, numerous schemes and repeated campaigns, there appears to be no visible impact on preventing child marriage. “It is astonishing that crores of rupees are being spent, yet the situation remains unchanged,” he remarked.
The government claims that Child Marriage Prohibition Officers are appointed across the state, regular monthly activities are held under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ campaign, special awareness drives are conducted on Akshaya Tritiya and Dev Uthani Ekadashi, and various programmes such as street plays, workshops and rallies are organised. Special teams, information units and control rooms are also said to be functioning at district and block levels.
Singh argued that the rising figures clearly indicate the government’s failure. Referring to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, he reiterated that marriage below 18 years for girls and 21 for boys is illegal and constitutes a cognisable offence, punishable with up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh, or both.
He demanded that the government move beyond paperwork and implement robust ground-level action to safeguard the future of minor girls.
