Baripada: The Mayurbhanj administration has come up with a multi-pronged approach to check child marriage and sought support from village, temple and mutt heads to rid the tribal-dominated district of the menace.

"Child marriage is a social evil and is still prevalent here. We have taken measures with panchayati raj institution members to such cases," collector S.K. Meena said.

The administration has also established a helpline and urged panchayati raj institution members for support.

It has also decided to felicitate the three best performing village heads ( sarpanch) at a district-level event. "We will felicitate them during Panchayati Raj Divas on March 5 next year," said Meena.

"Marriages are held in temples, mutts and places of worship and we have asked the heads of these institutions to cooperate with us," he said.

The district, with 404 gram panchayats under 26 blocks, is known for vulnerability to child marriage.

"We have urged people to call the helpline if they witness such incidents. They can also inform the local child development programme officer, police station, child line and the district child protection unit," said Mayurbhanj child protection officer Minati Biswal.

A training programme for district-level officers was held recently and similar training and awareness programmes would be launched at block and gram panchayat levels, the collector said.

"Child marriage is punishable according to the Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006, that rigorous imprisonment for two years or with fine which may extend to Rs 1 lakh or both," said Biswal.

"In the past three years, 152 cases of child marriages that came to the notice of the administration were stalled. In some cases, the rescued girls were admitted to schools and child care units. Three more cases came to our notice after the rituals were over."