Agartala, 24th April 2026: An awareness meeting aimed at curbing child marriage and promoting a drug-free society was held this afternoon at the community hall premises adjacent to Kanchanmala Market. The initiative, led by journalist Samarjit Chowdhury with support from the Kanchanmala Village Development Organization, began with the ceremonial lighting of a lamp.
The program witnessed the presence of Jharna Debbarma, Chairperson of the Tripura Commission for Women; Manchak Ipper, Inspector General of Police (Law & Order); Namit Pathak, Superintendent of Police of West District; organizer Samarjit Chowdhury; and Pintu Roy, President of the Kanchanmala Village Development Organization. Panchayat members Bikash Das and Mita Das were also present, along with teachers and students from Kanchanmala SB School and Lakshichhara Ramakrishna Higher Secondary School.
Addressing the gathering, the speakers strongly condemned the continued prevalence of child marriage in society. Jharna Debbarma and Manchak Ipper emphasized that despite being a punishable offense, child marriage persists largely due to a lack of awareness and negligence on the part of parents. They cautioned that such practices endanger the future of children and reaffirmed that the administration has adopted a zero-tolerance approach. Strict legal action, they warned, would be taken against violators.
The meeting also highlighted the growing concern over drug abuse among youth. Speakers noted that a significant number of young people are falling prey to addiction, leading them toward anti-social activities. Stressing the need for collective responsibility, the police administration urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any information related to drug activities without delay.
The program concluded with a strong appeal to students and parents to stay away from the evils of child marriage and drug abuse, and to contribute towards building a healthy, safe, and progressive society.
