Why in News?
In September 2025, Surajpur district in Chhattisgarh declared 75 village panchayats “Child Marriage‑Free”. This milestone reflects a community‑led campaign to end the practice of child marriage.
Overview of the Initiative
- What it is: A district‑wide social reform programme that combines awareness, community participation and legal enforcement to stop child marriages.
- Aim: To delay marriage until the legal age, thereby improving maternal and child health and ensuring girls complete their education.
Key Features
- Community participation: Panchayat members, Anganwadi workers, non‑governmental organisations and parents work together to identify vulnerable children and intervene before weddings take place.
- Awareness campaigns: Regular meetings educate villagers about the legal age of marriage, the health risks of early pregnancy and the importance of schooling.
- Health and nutrition linkage: The programme ties into National Nutrition Month activities to emphasise how delaying marriage benefits women’s health and children’s growth.
- Replication potential: Surajpur’s success has encouraged other districts and states to adopt similar approaches, aiming for a child marriage‑free India.
Relevance for UPSC Preparation
The initiative touches multiple parts of the Civil Services syllabus:
- GS II – Governance & Social Justice: Social sector and welfare schemes, including health, education and gender empowerment.
- GS I – Society: Salient features of Indian society, women’s issues and social empowerment.
- GS IV – Ethics: Case studies on collective action, social reform and administrative commitment.
Conclusion: Surajpur demonstrates how local leadership and community engagement can eradicate deep‑rooted social practices. Its model offers valuable lessons for policy makers and aspirants alike.
