The Tripura government has intensified efforts to curb child marriage through awareness campaigns and welfare schemes, resulting in the prevention of 9,992 child marriages during the 2025-26 financial year, Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy said on Tuesday during a press conference in Civil Secretariat in Agartala.

Addressing the media, he highlighted various welfare initiatives launched during the 2025-26 financial year, including schemes aimed at preventing child marriage, supporting girl children, assisting persons with intellectual disabilities, and strengthening Anganwadi centres across the state. Roy pointed out that special administrative camps would be held across the State on June 14, 15 and 16 to ensure that eligible beneficiaries can avail the schemes.

On child marriage, Roy said the state does not have complete data on all child marriages but maintains records of cases where authorities successfully intervened. He noted that awareness drives involving Block Development Officers, panchayat representatives and local officials have significantly contributed to preventing early marriages.

The minister acknowledged that some border areas, particularly Sonamura and Kailashahar, continue to report comparatively higher incidences of child marriage. He said social factors within certain communities contribute to the problem and that the government is working with Child Welfare Committees and social organisations to address it.

Roy expressed confidence that child marriage is declining in Tripura and would continue to fall through sustained awareness and welfare measures.

Speaking about welfare schemes aiming to reduce incidences of child marriage, Tinku Roy mentioned two initiatives which were launched in the previous 2025-26 FY. One of the key initiatives is the Mukhyamantri Kanya Bibah Yojana, introduced to reduce child marriage in Tripura. Under this scheme, eligible daughters from Antyodaya families who complete 18 years of age receive financial assistance of ₹50,000 for marriage purposes.

He said the scheme was launched recently and 45 beneficiaries, since October 2025, have already received financial support.

Another initiative, the Mukhyamantri Balika Samriddhi Yojana, provides financial security to girl children from Antyodaya families. Under this scheme, ₹50,000 is deposited as a fixed deposit after the birth of a girl child. The amount can be used after she turns 18 for education or marriage-related expenses.

The Minister said 105 beneficiaries have already received benefits under this scheme. He urged the media to create more awareness so that more eligible families can apply.

Roy also highlighted other welfare programmes for persons with intellectual disabilities. Under the Chief Minister’s Scheme for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities, 3,492 beneficiaries are receiving ₹5,000 per month. Additionally, around 20,027 persons with disabilities receive ₹2,000 monthly assistance under another welfare programme.

On Anganwadi modernization, Roy said 100 urban Anganwadi centres in Agartala, Udaipur, Dharmanagar and Kailashahar have been upgraded into English-medium centres with improved facilities. The state has already converted 562 centres into “Saksham Anganwadi” centres with better facilities and proposed upgrades for 640 more.

He added that electricity connections have been provided to 3,559 Anganwadi centres, while efforts are underway to achieve full electrification. Under the PM-JANMAN scheme, 226 new Anganwadi centres have been established in tribal and Bru settlement areas, with 126 already completed.

Roy also assured that recent delays in Anganwadi workers’ honorarium payments, caused by changes in the Centre’s fund release mechanism, have been resolved and payments will resume on schedule from the first week of every month.

The Minister said that apart from honorarium, Anganwadi workers receive additional payments for various activities.

According to department records, during the financial year from April 2025 to March 2026, workers received around ₹19,185 as incentives for activities such as mobile recharge support, travel allowance, festival grants and other incentives.

An additional ₹51,632 was provided for purchasing materials required for Anganwadi centres.

He also claimed that Tripura provides a higher honorarium to Anganwadi workers compared with many other states.

“Anganwadi workers in Tripura receive around ₹10,400, while several larger states provide lower amounts”, he said citing examples such as Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Odisha.

He added that the government wants to increase the honorarium further, but financial resources remain a challenge.

Among others, Special secretary of the SW&SE Tapan Kr Das and Director L Ranchal were present in the press conference.