Kakching, February 16, 2026: An awareness programme focusing on the elimination of child marriage and strengthening child protection systems was conducted at Keirak Keithel Lampak Community Hall in Kakching district as part of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) campaign.
Organised by the Office of the District Programme Officer, ICDS Cell under the leadership of N. Parango Singh and supervised by the District Administration Kakching, the programme aimed to mobilise grassroots efforts toward achieving Child Marriage Free Gram Panchayats.
Advocate Kshetrimayum Sarankumari Devi, Panel Lawyer of the Manipur State Legal Services Authority, served as the resource person. She elaborated on the legal framework governing child marriage, emphasizing that the minimum legal age for marriage is 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys. Any violation of this provision constitutes an offence under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. She also explained the legal remedies available in such cases.
Highlighting support mechanisms, she informed participants about CHILDLINE 1098, a round-the-clock toll-free helpline that allows anonymous reporting and immediate intervention in cases involving children at risk.
Additionally, M. Bimola Devi, Supervisor of the ICDS project, outlined various services delivered under the Integrated Child Development Services scheme. The awareness programme witnessed participation from around 80 attendees.
