Play positive role in making Madhya Pradesh child marriage-free : CM

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has written letters to ministers, ministers of state, MPs and MLAs urging them to play a positive role in making Madhya Pradesh child marriage-free. The Chief Minister has urged them to send the message to people that Madhya Pradesh government stands by every girl in the state to make her educated, healthy and empowered. In the letter, Shri Chouhan said that people should be impressed upon to desist from marrying their minor daughters, educate them and provide them opportunities to move forward in life.
The Chief Minister said that efforts should be made with caution that no child marriage takes place in the state on special occasions like Akshaya Tritiya, Dev Uthani Gyras etc. Ministers and MLA should also cooperate in new action plan “Lado Abhiyan”. He said that child marriage is a social evil. Social evils prevalent in some parts of the state due to lack of proper knowledge and literacy are affecting girls’ education, health and development. Incidents of child marriages have been reduced due to efforts of the State Government. He said that our goal is to make Madhya Pradesh child marriage-free. Child marriages cannot be curbed only through laws, but the trend can be checked only by changing people’s mindset, public awareness campaigns and creating positive atmosphere.
In the letter, Chief Minister Shri Chouhan informed that women’s empowerment is among 7 top priorities of the State Government. The government is striving constantly to create a positive atmosphere for women and girls by running a number of schemes for their welfare. Such schemes introduced by the State Government are being emulated by other states also. Despite this, constant efforts need to be made in some sectors.