In Odisha’s Nayagarh, a data-driven solution to child marriage

SoIn Odisha’s Nayagarh, a data-driven solution to child marriageThe post is based on the article “In Odisha’s Nayagarh, a data-driven solution to child marriage” published in The Hindu on 24th September 2022

What is the News?

Nayagarh, a small district in Odisha has adopted a unique initiative to eradicate child marriage by recording information on all adolescent girls in the district.

What is Nayagarh?

Nayagarh is a small district in Odisha. It has a population of 9,62,789 with a skewed sex ratio of 855. 

Child marriages in isolated locations of the district are still considered a part of their social life.

What has the district administration done against this?

The District administration launched the Aliva programme in January this year. 

Under the programme, Anganwadi workers had been asked to identify every adolescent girl in their jurisdiction and keep tabs on them. There are 1,584 registers available in 1,584 Anganwadi centres of the district.

The register maintains a record of the girl along with the name of her father. From the third page onwards, each page contains data of the adolescent girl including, address, education status, birth registration date, Aadhaar Card Number, contact details and family details. 

The age of the girl is approved by the local school headmaster, father, supervisor and child marriage prohibition officer(CMPO).

Towards the end of the register, information about child marriage, educational progress, skill training status and health issues of the adolescent girls are maintained.

Note: As per Odisha’s child marriage prevention strategy, the State aims to eradicate child marriage by 2030.