Agartala, June 29:
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Monday announced an intensified nationwide campaign against child marriage and drug abuse, calling for a “Whole of Government, Whole of Society” approach to tackle the twin social challenges while lauding Tripura’s implementation of women and child welfare schemes as a model for other states.
Addressing a press conference after reviewing centrally sponsored schemes under the Social Welfare and Social Education Department, the Union Minister said the Centre has strengthened the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign by launching the Child Marriage-Free Panchayat initiative, under which every panchayat is being encouraged to eliminate child marriages through community participation and institutional vigilance.
She said officials have been designated at the panchayat level across states to monitor child marriages and urged citizens to immediately report any such incidents through Childline 1098, emergency helpline 112 or state helplines to enable prompt intervention.
“Child marriage is a social issue that can only be eradicated through collective efforts. Anganwadi workers, panchayat representatives, child protection authorities, women’s commissions and local communities are being mobilised to create awareness. We also appeal to the media to become active partners in this campaign,” the Minister said.
Annapurna Devi observed that the increase in reporting of child marriage cases reflects greater awareness and improved reporting mechanisms rather than a rise in the practice itself.
She welcomed Tripura government’s incentive scheme under which eligible girls from Antyodaya families receive financial assistance of Rs 50,000 after attaining the legal age of marriage, describing it as an effective initiative to discourage child marriage and promote girls’ education.
The Union Minister also highlighted the growing concern over substance abuse among young people, saying the Centre and state governments are jointly implementing the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan through awareness programmes in schools, colleges and vulnerable communities.
“Every child has the right to education, a healthy life and a secure future. Governments alone cannot eliminate drug abuse. Parents, educational institutions, civil society and local communities must work together to protect the younger generation,” she said, adding that authorities act promptly whenever information regarding narcotics reaches them.
Reviewing women and child welfare programmes during her two-day visit, Annapurna Devi inspected Anganwadi Centres, Child Care Institutions, One Stop Centres and other facilities, interacting with children, pregnant women, Anganwadi workers and beneficiaries.
She said the Prime Minister’s vision is to ensure that the benefits of every welfare scheme reach the last person in society and commended the BJP-led “double-engine government” in Tripura for effectively implementing Central schemes at the grassroots.
Describing Tripura as an emerging model in women and child development, she said several best practices adopted by the state—including the management of One Stop Centres, child care institutions and community-based welfare initiatives—would be documented and shared with other states.
The Minister also assured Anganwadi workers that the government is sensitive to their demands. She said they are being covered under the Ayushman Bharat health insurance scheme, maternity leave benefits have been enhanced and social security pension provisions are in place, while other demands are being examined for phased implementation.
She further reviewed the progress of ten Working Women Hostel projects sanctioned for Tripura under a Central scheme and said the remaining funds for eligible projects would be released, enabling safe accommodation for working women and increasing female participation in the workforce.
Highlighting broader development in the Northeast, Annapurna Devi said improved road, railway and air connectivity over the past decade has integrated the region more closely with the rest of the country, strengthening the vision of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat and ensuring that development reaches the grassroots.
Replying to queries on social security pensions, Tripura Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy said the state bears the major share of pension expenditure while the Centre provides the minimum statutory assistance under the National Social Assistance Programme. He attributed recent delays in pension disbursement to changes in the Central government’s monthly fund release mechanism and said the system is expected to stabilise soon.
