📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Subodhgadgil
Education
Rajasthan assigns school principals as child‑marriage prohibition officers
✍️ Amar Ujala · Rajasthan
🗓 20 Oct 2026, 09:31 AM
👁 14
The state government has tasked principals of government schools with preventing child marriages, gathering evidence and creating awareness, prompting discontent among teachers.
Rajasthan's education department announced that heads of government schools will now serve as child‑marriage prohibition officers, a role traditionally handled by dedicated officials.
Under the new directive, principals are required to monitor their jurisdictions for any signs of child marriage, collect relevant evidence, and coordinate with law‑enforcement agencies to halt such unions.
The move aims to leverage the schools' proximity to vulnerable communities and to use educational platforms for awareness campaigns about the legal and health consequences of child marriage.
However, many teachers have expressed frustration, arguing that the additional responsibilities increase their workload without providing extra resources or training.
The government has said it will issue guidelines and support to help principals fulfill the duties, while emphasizing the importance of protecting children’s rights.
Under the new directive, principals are required to monitor their jurisdictions for any signs of child marriage, collect relevant evidence, and coordinate with law‑enforcement agencies to halt such unions.
The move aims to leverage the schools' proximity to vulnerable communities and to use educational platforms for awareness campaigns about the legal and health consequences of child marriage.
However, many teachers have expressed frustration, arguing that the additional responsibilities increase their workload without providing extra resources or training.
The government has said it will issue guidelines and support to help principals fulfill the duties, while emphasizing the importance of protecting children’s rights.