Hoshiarpur:- As per the guidelines of the Social Security and Women and Child Development Department, awareness activities are continuously going on in Hoshiarpur district under the 'Child Marriage Free India' campaign being run from 27 November 2025 to 8 March 2026. Under the leadership of District Program Officer Gagandeep Singh, the Child Marriage Free India campaign is being celebrated daily in all the Anganwadi centers of the district.
In this regard, an awareness program was organized today in village Ajram of Block Hoshiarpur-1 of district Hoshiarpur in collaboration with Anganwadi centers and government schools. This special campaign has been launched by the Punjab Government with the aim of stopping the increasing incidents of child marriage in the state and ensuring strict action against this serious social evil, which is being run in joint collaboration with the Women and Child Development Department, Police Department and Social Justice Department.
The administration clarified that child marriage is a social crime as well as a serious violation of the law. According to the Child Marriage Prevention Act, 2006, the marriage of a girl below the age of 18 and a boy below the age of 21 is completely illegal and there is a provision for legal action against the parents, relatives, panchayat members and those performing religious rituals involved in such a marriage.
With the help of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and school management in various villages of the district, people are being made aware about the ill effects of child marriage. Citizens are also being encouraged to contact Child Helpline 1098 for any information related to child marriage, where every information received will be kept completely confidential.
Officials said that child marriage not only damages the future of children, but also has a profound negative impact on their health, education and social development.