The Chhattisgarh government has announced a historic milestone, claiming that Balod has become the country's first district to be officially declared child marriage-free. This achievement, realized under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Child Marriage-Free India' campaign, was officially recognized after a rigorous verification process.

The state government's release stated that all 436 gram panchayats and nine urban bodies within Balod district have been awarded formal certificates of child marriage-free status.

Crucially, the district had reported zero cases of child marriage over the past two years, fulfilling the legal and administrative criteria for the declaration.

Collective Effort and State Ambition

Balod Collector Divya Umesh Mishra credited the achievement to a collective effort, emphasizing the participation of the district administration, public representatives, anganwadi workers, and the wider community.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai affirmed the state's prioritization of this social issue, stating that the government’s goal is to declare the entire state child marriage-free by 2028-29.

"This is not merely a government campaign, but a commitment to social transformation," the Chief Minister said, adding that the certification process for more panchayats and urban bodies across Chhattisgarh is being expedited.

Replication and Acknowledgment

The success appears to be spreading, as the release also noted that 75 gram panchayats in the neighboring Surajpur district have been similarly declared child marriage-free after maintaining a two-year record of no such incidents.

Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade highlighted the collaborative nature of the success. She stated that Balod's achievement proves that social evils like child marriage can be eradicated "when society and government work together." The Minister also acknowledged the crucial contribution of the UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) through technical support, awareness programs, and monitoring mechanisms.