Nagpur: Maharashtra, despite its ambitious push toward becoming a $1 trillion economy, is grappling with a disturbing surge in child marriages. According to data obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) query, the state has witnessed a six-fold increase in such cases since 2018—exposing deep-rooted social challenges behind the façade of progress.
While only 187 child marriages were prevented in 2018, officials thwarted 1,246 cases between April 2024 and January 2025 alone. Over the past seven years, authorities have intervened in 5,196 cases and registered 393 FIRs in incidents where the marriages had already taken place.
The Aurangabad division reported the highest number of averted child marriages (2,484), followed by Pune (926), Nashik (809), Amravati (589), Nagpur (243), and Konkan (146).
District Child Protection Officer Mushtaq Pathan attributed the alarming trend to several socio-economic factors. “Girls aged between 14 and 18 are often married off due to love affairs, elopements, traditional practices, or poverty. In many cases, families agree to marry off their underage daughters when someone offers to bear the wedding expenses,” he said. He further clarified that FIRs are registered only after the marriage is solemnised.
Crackdown Planned Ahead of Akshay Tritiya
With Akshay Tritiya approaching—a day considered auspicious for weddings—the district administration is preparing for a major crackdown to prevent potential child marriages. Acting on directives from District Collector Dr. Vipin Itankar and Nagpur Zilla Parishad CEO Vinayak Mahamuni, a special drive will be launched across the district.
“Strict action will be taken against all parties involved,” Pathan said. “This includes parents, printing press operators, priests, band owners, and decorators. Anyone found facilitating a child marriage will be booked under the Child Marriage Prevention Act.”
The rising numbers serve as a stark reminder that despite ongoing awareness campaigns and legal safeguards, child marriage remains a persistent issue in Maharashtra—requiring stronger enforcement and deeper community engagement.
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