Maharashtra Launches 100-Day Campaign to End Child Marriage: Initiative Follows Shocking Raigad Report

State Takes Action After Alarming Raigad Report on Child Marriages

The Maharashtra government has announced a statewide awareness and prevention campaign against child marriages following a disturbing report from Raigad district.
The report, published by MahaiNews on October 7, revealed that 21 cases had been registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act within the past nine months and that 348 underage girls had become mothers in just 18 months.

Taking serious note of the issue, Aditi Tatkare, the State Minister for Women and Child Development, has launched a special 100-day awareness campaign to tackle the problem across Maharashtra.

‘100 Days for a Child Marriage-Free Maharashtra’ Campaign

The campaign titled “100 Days for a Child Marriage-Free Maharashtra” will run from October 11, 2025 (International Day of the Girl Child) to January 26, 2026 (Republic Day).
During a high-level meeting, Minister Tatkare directed officials to take focused preventive measures and educational initiatives at district and divisional levels.

The minister emphasized reducing school dropout rates among girls, spreading awareness about sexual education, and providing community-level counseling in vulnerable regions.

Special Focus on Sugarcane Worker Families and Raigad Talukas

Aditi Tatkare instructed authorities to personally visit families of sugarcane workers in Marathwada, raising awareness about child marriage prevention and health issues.

In Raigad district, priority measures will be implemented in the Alibag, Karjat, Pen, Sudhagad, Murud, Roha, Panvel, Khalapur, and Mangaon talukas.

Committees working under the Aadishakti Abhiyan — at village, taluka, division, and state levels — will also actively participate in this awareness drive.

Officials Present at the Meeting

The meeting, chaired by Minister Aditi Tatkare, was attended by:

Nayana Gunde, Commissioner, Women and Child Development Department

Aanchal Dalal, SP Raigad

Neha Bhosale, CEO, Raigad Zilla Parishad

Anand Bhondwe, Deputy Secretary

Prasad Kulkarni, Under Secretary

Rahul More, Joint Commissioner

Shrikant Hawale, District Women and Child Development Officer, Raigad

Sujata Sakpal, along with other divisional and district officials via video conferencing