Punjab intensifies battle against child marriage

Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr Baljit Kaur on Wednesday said that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is making continuous, committed, and result-oriented efforts to make Punjab a child marriage-free state.

She informed that a total of 119 child marriage cases has been successfully prevented through prompt action from 2022 to date.

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Providing further details, Dr Baljit Kaur said that 31 cases were stopped in 2022, 20 in 2023, 42 in 2024, and 26 cases have already been prevented so far in 2025, reflecting the government’s responsible and proactive approach to safeguarding the future of children in the state.

The Minister emphasized that the Punjab government is actively conducting awareness campaigns at both village and urban levels to eradicate the social evil of child marriage.

She appreciated the dedicated effort of district-level teams and supporting officers, who are consistently coordinating with village sarpanches, panches, and other influential community members to prevent such incidents in a timely manner.

Prominent child rights activist and social worker Bhuwan Ribhu also commended Dr. Baljit Kaur in a recent tweet, describing her as a “real hero,” and remarked that Punjab is decisively moving towards eliminating the menace of child marriage.

Dr Baljit Kaur further warned that no individual violating child safety and child rights laws will be spared. She directed officials not only to raise awareness in villages and towns about the harmful consequences of child marriage but also to inform people about the strict legal provisions and severe penalties applicable to those involved in such acts.

In conclusion, Dr Baljit Kaur appealed to the people of Punjab to support the government’s mission to eliminate this social evil. She said, “No mission can succeed without the active participation of people. Together, we will make Punjab a child marriage-free state.”