Agartala: In a significant stride against the deeply rooted issue of child marriage, ten villages nestled within Tripura’s border district of Sepahijala have been formally recognised as ‘Aspiring Child Marriage Free.’ This landmark achievement comes after these communities successfully maintained a period of six consecutive months without any reported instances of underage marriages, a testament to their unwavering commitment under the state’s ambitious Mission Sankalp initiative.
The certification marks the inaugural batch of villages to receive formal recognition within the program’s meticulously designed three-tier system. Mission Sankalp, a dedicated government endeavour, has been specifically targeting the twin challenges of child marriage and teenage pregnancy in Sepahijala, a district sharing an extensive and often porous border with Bangladesh.
District Magistrate Siddharth Shiv Jaiswal elaborated on the structured approach underpinning this recognition programme. He underscored that a crucial facet of the initiative involves acknowledging and incentivising villages that demonstrate a genuine commitment towards fostering a Child Marriage Free (CMF) environment within their communities.
The certification mechanism operates through three distinct categories, each contingent on the duration a village remains free from reported child marriages. To qualify for the Bronze category, villages must uphold a six-month period without any incidents. The Silver category demands a more extended commitment of twelve months, while the coveted Gold category necessitates an impressive twenty-four months of absolute zero child marriages.
The journey towards certification involves a rigorous verification process. It commences with the Gram Pradhan submitting official declarations to the respective block development offices. These claims are then subjected to a thorough review by multiple administrative echelons, including sub-divisional magistrates and dedicated task forces, before culminating in final district-level approval.
The ten trailblazing villages that have earned this distinction are spread across three rural development blocks within Sepahijala. Jampuijala block leads the pack with five certified villages: Promod Nagar, Doyarampara, Twima, JK Nagar, East Ratnapur, and West Ratnapur. Charilam block has contributed two villages to this list – Ramnagar and Batharmura – while Nalchar block proudly adds Rampadapara and Padmininagar to the esteemed roster.
Sepahijala’s unique geographical position, bordering Bangladesh, introduces a complex layer of challenges in effectively tackling child marriage. This inherent complexity makes the district’s proactive and successful stance in this regard particularly noteworthy and commendable. The administration has been actively addressing the intricate social dynamics of the area through a combination of robust community engagement and vigilant monitoring systems.
Jaiswal reiterated the programme’s long-term vision, stating that the District Administration remains committed to continuously encouraging villages to aspire for higher categories of recognition by maintaining sustained and unwavering efforts against child marriage.
The Mission Sankalp initiative exemplifies a powerful synergy between administrative oversight and vital grassroots participation. It mandates that villages demonstrate a sustained commitment rather than a mere temporary compliance, aiming to instil lasting behavioural changes within communities as opposed to short-term, superficial interventions.
Officials express optimism that as awareness about the programme’s stringent requirements and tangible benefits permeates wider communities, an increasing number of villages will be motivated to seek certification. The meticulously designed tiered system serves as a clear benchmark for communities, simultaneously offering progressive recognition for their sustained and commendable efforts.
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