A recent case in Jharkhand, where a 14-year-old girl gave birth in Khunti district, has prompted local authorities to take action. They are set to expand their existing awareness campaigns in an effort to combat early marriage and teenage pregnancy. The girl was in a live-in relationship with a boy, two years her senior, with parental approval and according to tribal customs. The District Child Protection Officer confirmed the birth of the baby girl at the Khunti district hospital. The official mentioned that current awareness campaigns, conducted in partnership with NGOs and civil society organizations, will be amplified across Khunti’s 86 gram panchayats. These campaigns will emphasize the health, mental, educational, and social implications of early pregnancy, aiming to steer future generations away from such practices.
