Agartala: A workshop aimed at tackling the alarming prevalence of child marriages in Tripura was held on Wednesday in the state capital. Organized by the Guwahati-based Centre for Development and Peace Studies (CDPS) in collaboration with UNICEF, the event brought together media professionals, experts, and activists to discuss the role of the media in promoting a positive narrative about the value of the girl child and addressing the child marriage crisis.
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The workshop, titled “Promote a Public Narrative on Increasing the Value of the Girl Child,” featured prominent speakers including Editor-in-Chief of North East Live and founder member of CDPS Wasbir Hussain, founding Vice-Chancellor of National Law University, Tripura Prof. Yogesh Pratap Singh, Editor of Headlines Tripura and president of the Journalist Union Pranab Sarkar, senior journalist Sayed Sajjad Ali, Assistant Professor of NLU Dr. Debasree Debnath, Associate Editor of NEL Oineetom Ojah, and UNICEF India representatives Communications Specialist Purvi Malhotra and Child Protection Specialist Laxminarayan Nanda.
The speakers highlighted the serious issue of child marriage in Tripura, where the rate of 11.9% is significantly higher than the national average. They discussed how child marriage not only ends a girl’s childhood but also has far-reaching consequences on education, health, and protection, thus perpetuating a cycle of poverty across generations.
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Child Marriage: A Growing Concern Despite National Progress
While child marriage rates in India have declined from 47% (2005-06) to 27% (2015-16), the issue remains a deeply rooted social and cultural problem. The workshop emphasized that these high rates of child marriage reflect ongoing gender inequality and entrenched social norms that continue to undermine the empowerment of young girls.
The speakers also addressed the issue of underreporting, particularly in Tripura, where many cases of child marriage remain unrecorded due to a lack of centralized monitoring systems. Participants acknowledged that media attention could be a powerful tool to expose this hidden problem and generate public awareness.
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A Call for Media Intervention in Tackling Child Marriage
As many as 36 journalists from across Tripura participated in the workshop. Many expressed that the session was an eye-opener, offering new perspectives on how the media can more effectively report on child marriage and advocate for change. Journalists agreed that a collective effort is needed to raise awareness, challenge social norms, and hold authorities accountable for preventing child marriages.
The event emphasized the pivotal role the media plays in changing public attitudes and dismantling the socio-cultural and structural factors that sustain child marriage practices in the state. By highlighting these issues in their reporting, media professionals can contribute to long-term solutions, such as policy changes and grassroots awareness campaigns, that can ultimately reduce the prevalence of child marriages in Tripura.
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