Archive · 15 Jan 2026
Odisha Launches Campaign Against Child Marriage
The Odisha government started two important programs.
One is to teach young kids in their own languages for five years.
This will first happen in six districts using tribal languages.
The other program is a 100-day campaign to stop child marriages, starting in two districts.
The government wants to make Odisha a place where no child marriages happen by 2030.
They also started a program to help young mothers in one district with the help of UNICEF.
The Deputy Chief Minister opened new buildings for training and housing for workers who help women and children.
Odisha launched an education scheme for children aged 3-6 in tribal languages for five years, starting in six districts.
A 100-day campaign against child marriage was initiated, piloting in Mayurbhanj and Malkangiri districts.
Odisha registered 8,159 child marriages between 2019 and February 2025, with Nabarangpur district having the highest cases.
The state aims to be child marriage-free by 2030, with Ganjam already recognized as a child marriage-free district since 2022.
A pilot program for adolescent mother support and prevention of adolescent pregnancy was launched in Mayurbhanj with UNICEF's collaboration.
- Who
- Odisha government, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida
- What
- Launched education scheme and 100-day campaign against child marriage
- When
- Inaugurated on Tuesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Odisha, India (pilot districts: Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Malkangiri)
- Why
- To promote women's empowerment, early education in mother tongues, and prevent child marriages
- Initiatives Launched
- Education scheme and 100-day campaign against child marriage
- Inaugurated By
- Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida
- Pilot Districts for Education Scheme
- Keonjhar, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri
- Pilot Districts for Campaign
- Mayurbhanj and Malkangiri
- Child Marriages Registered (2019-Feb 2025)
- 8,159
- Highest Cases in District
- Nabarangpur (1,347 cases)
- Goal
- Child marriage-free State by 2030
- Support Programme
- Adolescent mother support in Mayurbhanj with UNICEF