A mass pledge campaign throughout the district was undertaken by the district administration, Rayagada and District Child Protection Unit, District Welfare Department and School and
Mass Education Department with support from all Higher Secondary Schools, Unicef and Action Aid India.
As per the NFHS-4 survey data, Rayagada district stands on 5th position in terms of female child marriage and 1st position in case of male child marriage in the State. Child marriage leads to infant mortality, maternal mortality and malnutrition.
Through the mass pledging, it is focused not to organise any marriage ceremony while the girl is below 18 years and boy is below 21 years age. When a child marriage will be organized, they would dissuade the parents from it and inform Childline, Police, Anganwadi worker, ICDS supervisors and CDPOs-cum- child marriage prohibition officers and District Child Protection Officer.
District Child Protection Officer, Rayagada Ramesh Ch Nayak coordinated the programme. A mass pledging and human chain was also organised by the district administration on October 2 covering all schools and all SHG members.
