NAGPUR — Maharashtra has seen a dramatic increase in the number of child marriages prevented over the past six years, rising from 187 cases in 2018-19 to 1,246 cases in 2024-25 (till January) — a 566% surge, according to data from the Women and Child Welfare Commissionerate, Mumbai, released under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
While the steep rise might seem alarming, officials attribute it to greater public awareness and timely interventions rather than a spike in the actual number of child marriages.
In 2018-19, Kolhapur recorded the most cases (37), while Nagpur district reported none. The following year, Beed led with 36 cases, again with no cases from Nagpur. This changed in 2020-21, when Nagpur division reported 11 cases, and the numbers have steadily increased since. As of 2024-25 (till January), Nagpur has reported 13 cases, indicating improved vigilance and reporting.
Districts such as Solapur and Beed consistently topped the state in terms of child marriage prevention. Solapur led in 2020-21 (68 cases) and 2021-22 (70 cases). Parbhani took the lead in 2022-23 (113 cases) and 2023-24 (159 cases). Beed has once again emerged as the hotspot in the current financial year with 187 cases stopped as of January.
The data points to regional trends, with Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Pune divisions reporting the highest concentrations of foiled child marriages. In contrast, the Konkan division saw the fewest cases, crossing 50 only once in 2021-22.
A seasonal trend was also observed: March to June accounted for the highest number of incidents, coinciding with school vacations, traditional wedding months, and festivals such as Akshay Tritiya, during which child marriages are more common.
Districts like Ahmednagar, Nashik, and Kolhapur have consistently registered FIRs and taken legal action. In Nagpur division, most interventions were reported from Wardha and Chandrapur. Across all divisions, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar showed the highest average of prevented cases.
An official from the Women and Child Welfare Department noted:
“The rise in prevented cases is largely due to increased awareness. While certain communities still adhere to this harmful practice, more people—especially in rural areas—are now stepping forward and reporting suspected child marriages. They know they can call 1098, and our teams will respond promptly.”
Authorities continue to emphasize education and community outreach as key tools in the ongoing fight against child marriage in the state.
