Tripura’s Sepahijala district faces a child marriage crisis as the DM reports a 50% rate and urges immediate community and administrative action.
In a deeply concerning revelation, the District Magistrate (DM) of Sepahijala, Dr. Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal, announced that the rate of child marriage in the district stands at a staggering 50%. The announcement was made during a high-level meeting on Mission Sankalp, held on Wednesday at 11 AM in the conference hall of the District Magistrate’s office in Bishramganj.
The meeting, organized jointly by the Sepahijala District Administration and the District Child Line Protection Unit, brought together senior officials from across the district to address the alarming rise in child marriages and underage pregnancies.
DM Sounds Alarm Over Rising Cases
The District Magistrate stated that despite multiple awareness programs, child marriages and pregnancies among underage girls are on the rise in the region. Highlighting a recent disturbing case, the DM disclosed that a 13-year-old girl in the district was found to be pregnant. This was confirmed after an ultrasound scan, and the report was personally presented to him by the Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Rinku Lathor.
“This is not just a social issue—it’s a generational crisis,” Dr. Jaiswal said. “Child marriage continues to destroy the potential, talent, and future of young girls. It is time to move beyond awareness programs and take strong action on the ground.”
He stressed that child marriage has become a stigma for the Sepahijala district, and the responsibility to remove this blot lies with every section of society—from the administration to community leaders and parents.
Nine FIRs, But Child Marriages Continue
Despite several police cases being registered, including nine FIRs across various police stations, the practice shows no signs of abating. Officials expressed their frustration that strict laws and multiple awareness campaigns have had limited impact so far.
Dr. Jaiswal urged everyone present to take proactive field-level action rather than rely solely on awareness campaigns. “Publicity is not enough,” he asserted. “We need active participation in villages, families, and schools to end this social evil.”
He emphasized that unless families begin to rethink the future of their daughters—valuing education and skills over early marriage—the problem will persist for generations.
Concern Shared by Women and Child Protection Authorities
Chameli Saha, a member of the State Women and Child Protection Commission, also addressed the gathering and strongly condemned the prevalence of child marriage in the district. Calling it a “social epidemic,” she urged both civil society and the administration to work in unison to root out the practice.
“If we don’t act now, we are allowing the cycle of poverty, lack of education, and gender inequality to continue unchecked,” Saha stated.
Broad Participation in Crisis Meeting
The meeting was attended by several key figures, including:
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Supriya Das Dutta, Chairperson of the Sepahijala Zilla Parishad
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Pintu Aich, Assistant Chairperson
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Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) from all three subdivisions
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Officers-in-Charge (OCs) of local police stations
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Members of the Sepahijala Child Welfare Committee
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Representatives from the District Child Protection Unit
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Rajib Sutradhar, Additional Superintendent of Police
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IPS officer Venkata Ram, among others.
All participants expressed deep concern over the worsening situation and pledged coordinated action to combat the menace of child marriage in Sepahijala.
Way Forward: A Unified Front
The Mission Sankalp meeting ended with a collective resolution to step up vigilance, increase enforcement, and foster grassroots-level awareness with real impact. Officials vowed to identify at-risk communities and families, intervene before marriages take place, and provide necessary support and rehabilitation for affected minors.
This urgent call to action has added momentum to the ongoing fight against child marriage in Tripura. With consistent pressure from both the administration and community, Sepahijala hopes to reverse the trend and protect its youngest citizens from a lifetime of lost opportunities.
