Jharkhand News : Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Tuesday directed officials to take stringent measures to curb child marriage across the state and accelerate the implementation of welfare schemes under the Women, Child Development and Social Security Department.
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Jharkhand Ministry, the Chief Minister expressed concern over the rising incidence of child marriages in districts such as Giridih, Deoghar and Jamtara. He instructed officials to launch intensive awareness campaigns and ensure strict legal action against those promoting or facilitating child marriages. He also emphasized the use of audio-visual content and social media platforms to spread awareness among students and the general public.
Soren suggested appointing girls who have courageously opposed child marriage as brand ambassadors and volunteers to promote awareness and encourage social change.
The Chief Minister also directed the department to speed up recruitment for vacant posts, including Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), women supervisors, Anganwadi workers and helpers, to strengthen service delivery.
Reviewing Anganwadi infrastructure, he called for the development of model Anganwadi centres in mission mode and instructed officials to shift centres operating from dilapidated or rented buildings to permanent facilities. He stressed ensuring basic amenities such as electricity, drinking water and sanitation in all centres, particularly in remote rural areas.
Soren further directed officials to raise awareness about Sakhi One Stop Centres and women’s helpline services, ensuring timely support for women affected by violence. He also reviewed the progress of key welfare schemes, including the Savitribai Phule Kishori Samriddhi Yojana, Chief Minister Kanyadan Yojana, widow remarriage assistance programmes and disability welfare initiatives, urging officials to ensure that benefits reach eligible beneficiaries without delay.
