Nagpur: In a concerning development that challenges Maharashtra’s vision of a progressive and $1 trillion economy, child marriage cases in the state have increased six-fold since 2018. An RTI query has revealed a steady rise not only in the number of child marriages being prevented by authorities but also in FIRs lodged, indicating that the social evil continues to thrive despite modernization efforts.
Back in 2018, only 187 child marriages were prevented across the state. However, between April 2024 and January 2025, this number jumped to 1,246. In total, authorities have foiled 5,196 child marriage attempts from April 2018 to January 2025, and registered 393 FIRs in cases where the marriage had already taken place.
Aurangabad division reported the highest number of child marriages averted during this period (2,484), followed by Pune (926), Nashik (809), Amravati (589), Nagpur (243), and Konkan (146), which recorded the lowest.
District Child Protection Officer Mushtaq Pathan highlighted several factors contributing to the rise in such cases. “Girls aged between 14 and 18 are often forced into marriage, especially after love affairs or elopement. Families try to avoid social embarrassment by arranging their marriage. Some communities still practice child marriage despite awareness campaigns, and poverty remains a major trigger. When someone agrees to cover the wedding costs, many families go ahead with underage marriages,” he explained. FIRs, he added, are lodged only after the marriage has taken place.
Action Plan for Akshay Tritiya:
With Akshay Tritiya approaching—a date considered auspicious for weddings—the district administration is launching a special drive to curb child marriages. Acting on directives from District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar and Nagpur Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni, officials will intensify surveillance during this period.
Pathan stated that strict action will be taken not just against families but also against those who facilitate such marriages. “Printing presses, priests, band owners, and decorators will also be booked under the Child Marriage Prevention Act if found involved,” he warned.
Despite legal frameworks and awareness efforts, the rising trend in child marriages highlights the urgent need for sustained community-level engagement and stronger enforcement to protect vulnerable minors.
