Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is consistently working to eliminate the social menace of child marriage from the state. Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Baljit Kaurr stated that the government’s proactive steps and ongoing awareness campaigns are yielding positive results.
She shared that between January and December 2024, timely intervention by the department prevented 42 cases of child marriage. Additionally, from January to March 2025, 16 more instances were stopped, bringing the total number of averted child marriages to 58 in the past 15 months.
Minister Baljit Kaur emphasized that this progress highlights the Punjab Government’s strong dedication to protecting children’s rights and ensuring their well-being. She reiterated that child marriage is a grave social issue and the government is enforcing strict measures to eliminate it completely.
She also informed that Punjab operates a 24/7 Child Helpline 1098, where citizens can confidentially report child marriage, abuse, or exploitation. To ensure swift action, such reports can also be shared with village-level school principals or Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), who also serve as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs). The identity of the whistleblower is strictly protected.
Minister Baljit Kaur warned that anyone found organizing or supporting child marriages will face strict legal consequences. She stressed that childhood should be devoted to education and growth, not marriage, and any attempt to disrupt this will be firmly dealt with.
Minister Baljit Kaur added that the government will soon launch targeted awareness drives during marriage seasons, extending outreach to district and village levels for more effective prevention.
In conclusion, Minister Baljit Kaur called upon teachers, ASHA workers, sarpanches, NGOs, and all conscious citizens to support the government’s mission to end child marriage and help create a safe, forward-looking Punjab for every child.