Aizawl, july 16: The Directorate of Women and Child Development, Government of Mizoram, convened the 2nd Review Meeting cum Sensitization Programme on the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, on Tuesday at Secretariat Conference Hall No. 1 in Aizawl. The meeting was chaired by Pi Lalzarmawii, Commissioner and Secretary, Social Welfare, Tribal Affairs, Women and Child Development Department.
The programme was organized as part of the state’s follow-up action to the Supreme Court’s judgment dated 18 October 2024 in Writ Petition (C) No. 1234 of 2017 – Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action vs Union of India, which mandates specific state-level initiatives to curb child marriage.
The session began with opening remarks from the Chairperson, followed by a sensitization address by Pi Priscilla Lallawmsangi, Legal Officer, Mizoram State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MSCPCR). Key action points were presented by Pi Zoramthangi Chhangte, Director, Women and Child Development, with a focus on aligning with national goals under the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign.
Deliberations during the meeting highlighted the importance of strengthening inter-departmental coordination with local authorities, law enforcement agencies, and educational institutions. Key agenda points included the training of police and judicial officers, integration of the Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU), contextual interpretation of ‘solemnization’ in local customs, inclusion of PCMA-related content in school textbooks, designation of female teachers for awareness drives, implementation of leadership programmes for adolescent girls, and strategies for protecting children at risk of early marriage.
The meeting reinforced the “Whole of Government & Whole of Society” approach to address the issue of child marriage and reaffirmed the state’s commitment to safeguarding children’s rights.
Officials from various departments participated in the meeting both offline and online, including:
Inspector General of Police, Headquarters
All Deputy Commissioners
Under Secretary, Social Welfare, Women & Child Development Department
Joint Director, Directorate of School Education
Director and Deputy Director, Women & Child Development
Superintendent of Police, Aizawl
Additional SP, CID (Crime)
Deputy Secretary, Law and Judicial Department
Joint Secretaries, Home and School Education Departments
Member Secretary, State Legal Services Authority
Secretaries from District Legal Services Authorities
SDPOs from Aizawl North and South
Legal Officer, MSCPCR
The event marked a continued effort by the state to promote awareness, policy implementation, and institutional coordination toward eliminating child marriage in Mizoram.
