Authorities in Jharkhand are planning to increase public awareness initiatives aimed at preventing early marriage and teenage pregnancy. This decision follows the birth of a baby to a 14-year-old girl in the Khunti district. The girl was in a live-in relationship with a boy who is two years older than her. The couple’s relationship was reportedly sanctioned by the girl’s parents, adhering to a tribal custom. The District Child Protection Officer confirmed the birth of a baby girl at a hospital in Khunti district. The officer stated the intention to intensify the ongoing awareness campaigns conducted in collaboration with NGOs and civil society organizations, focusing on the prevention of child marriage and child labor, across all 86 gram panchayats in Khunti. The aim is to educate communities and minors about the health, mental, educational, and societal consequences of early pregnancy, in hopes of deterring future generations from similar practices.
