Bhubaneswar: The Women and Child Development Department has issued a directive declaring the Principal of every college and the Headmaster of every school as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs). They will function as CMPOs within their respective institutions and surrounding areas to help curb child marriages.
Key Roles and Responsibilities:
Principals and Headmasters: They will actively work as CMPOs to prevent child marriages and will support the designated Child Marriage Prohibition Officers in their efforts.
Panchayat Executive Officers (PEOs) & Hostel Wardens: The government has also declared PEOs and wardens/matrons of residential hostels as CMPOs.
This is the first time the government has taken such a significant step to strengthen the enforcement of child marriage prohibition at the grassroots level.