The Odisha Authorities has did not successfully implement late marriage incentives geared toward checking early marriages in Notably Susceptible Tribal Teams (PVTGs) regardless of earmarking a devoted fund for the aim, says Comptroller Auditor Common of India, whose report on efficiency audit of micro challenge companies (MPAs) was tabled in Odisha Legislative Meeting on Tuesday (March 31, 2026).
A scheme referred to as ‘Late marriage incentive to PVTG households’ program was launched below Odisha PVTG Empowerment and Livelihood Enchancment Program (OPELIP) in December 2020. The target was to create consciousness relating to prevention of early marriage.
In response to the CAG report, below the scheme, monetary help ranging between ₹2,000 and ₹20,000 was to be paid to every woman marrying after 18 years of age, within the form of an account payee cheque, in a group assembly within the presence of villagers to encourage different women and their households to undertake the same follow. Recognized group useful resource individuals had been assigned to establish women of PVTG households marrying after 18 years and inform the Village Growth Committees (VDCs).
“Audit observed that many of the MPAs had no particulars or info relating to baby marriages happening within the villages below their management although the districts with a better focus of tribal communities had witnessed a bigger variety of baby marriages. Malkangiri reported the best instances with 39.30%, adopted by Nabarangpur (37.90%), Mayurbhanj (35%), Koraput (34.70%) and Rayagada. (34.40%), as per NFHS-4 (2015-16),” the report says.
“Solely 5 out of 17 MPAs might present particulars of kid marriages (133 instances) that had taken place throughout 2019-24,” the audit report says.
“For this programme, a provision of ₹153.26 lakh was made throughout 2019-24, in 17 MPAs to cowl 1,161 PVTG women. In opposition to this, the MPAs incurred an expenditure of ₹95.24 lakh solely in direction of cost of late marriage incentive to 677 (58%) beneficiaries,” the report factors out, indicating “sub-optimal efficiency” of the MPAs in selling late marriage by means of cost of incentive for stopping baby marriage.
“Beneficiaries assisted below the Late Marriage Incentive scheme in 13 MPAs belonged to 168 (43%) out of a complete of 389 villages below the jurisdiction of those MPAs. Thus, the scheme for late marriage incentive to stop early marriage among the many PVTGs, was not carried out in 214 villages,” it reveals.
Out of 75 PVTGs recognized within the nation, 13 PVTGs, belong to Odisha, having inhabitants of two,94,712 unfold over 14 districts of the State. For implementing totally different welfare packages for upliftment of PVTGs, the State Authorities had established 20 MPAs in the course of the interval from 1976-77 to 2020-21 throughout 14 districts of the State. An MPA coated a specific zone of focus of PVTGs and was accountable for implementing all such packages in that zone.
The overall PVTG inhabitants within the State, thus stood at 2.94 lakh in 1,679 villages/ hamlets. Out of those 2.94 lakh inhabitants, OPELIP was carried out for 1.34 lakh individuals solely and developmental packages had not been carried out for the remaining 1.60 lakh individuals dwelling in newly recognized 1,138 villages. Thus, 1.60 lakh (54%) PVTG inhabitants was neglected from availing the advantages of PVTG particular packages for years collectively, as of March 2024.
Revealed – April 01, 2026 04:00 am IST