Bhubaneswar, Feb. 15 -- Despite awareness programmes and stricter law, over 8,100 child marriages were held in Odisha in last six years, according to a statement by Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.

Replying to BJD MLA Badri Narayan Patra in House during budget session of Odisha Assembly, Parida, who is also the Women & Child Development Minister in Odisha Government, said that the government has registered total 8159 child marriage cases so far since 2019.

As per the district-wise data on number of child marriages, the highest number of 1347 child marriage cases were reported from Nabarangpur district followed by Ganjam district with 966. Koraput district is placed third with 636 child marriages.

However, the state government has ...