Authorities in Gajapati district’s Gumma block successfully thwarted a child marriage in Parida panchayat following a tip-off to the Child Help Line (1098). The situation unfolded dramatically when the officiating priest realized the bride was a minor and fled the altar.
A multi-departmental team, including the CDPO, DCPU, Sakhi Kendra, local NGO representatives, and Serang police, arrived shortly after to intervene. They educated the family on the legal implications of the Child Marriage Restraint Act, emphasizing the mandatory legal age of 18 for women and 21 for men.
The 17-year-old bride was rescued and presented before the Child Welfare Committee. Following counseling, her parents provided a written undertaking to postpone the wedding until she reaches the legal age of maturity.
The minor was subsequently handed over to her mother’s care, marking a successful intervention against illegal practices in the region.