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Ahilyanagar: in maharashtra Shocking cases of pregnancy in adolescence have come to light. Worrying figures have emerged in the survey of Anganwadi and Asha workers in Ahilyanagar district. During this time, the fact has come to light that in recent times, the trend of running away and getting married has increased due to which the cases of pregnancy in adolescence have increased. An unmarried girl was also found pregnant in the survey.
A survey of Anganwadi workers or ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers in Maharashtra has found 56 cases of teenage pregnancy, including one unmarried girl, in Akole taluka of Ahilyanagar district of the state. Officials say that teenage pregnancy is the reason why young girls run away with their lovers to get married.
Investigation by ETV Bharat correspondent has revealed that these cases came to light when Anganwadi workers were conducting door-to-door surveys in the villages to provide nutritious food to lactating mothers. They found 56 girls involved in such cases. Some of them have even given birth to a child.
However, since many of these girls are ‘underage mothers’, there is no record of their pregnancy or delivery in any government records. In India, the legal age of marriage for girls is 18 years while for boys it is 21 years. The increasing number of child marriages in Akole taluka is a matter of concern, as the government spends crores of rupees on the empowerment of women and children.
Srinivas Ashok Renukdas, social worker of NGO ‘Samarth’ and member of Akole Taluka Child Protection Committee, said that one of the main reasons for teenage pregnancy is that the youth are rushing to get married. Renukdas said, ‘The number of young girls running away and getting married has also increased.
On an average, every two days a girl runs away and gets married in the taluka. Our organization Samarth has stopped more than 500 child marriages in Akole taluka with the help of the administration in the last five years. These incidents have created a unique social problem here.
Women and Child Development Department of Akole Taluka currently has two projects. One in Rajur and the other in Akole. There are 11 supervisors and 326 Anganwadi workers in Akole Project. Anganwadi workers survey pregnant and lactating mothers once a month and provide them nutritious food based on the results of the survey.
Renukdas told ETV Bharat that the Women and Child Welfare Department has taken cognizance of the matter. He suggested forming child protection committees at the village level and making a special action plan. Recently, a training was held in Akole on stopping child marriage, and the village government representatives were informed about it.
Archana Ekhande, Akole Project Officer of the Women and Child Welfare Department, has visited schools, gram sevaks (village development officers), some organizations and institutions in Akole taluka. The officials have also warned of taking immediate action against people against child marriage.
According to Archana Ekhande, project officer of the Women and Child Development Department, it was surprising to know that in the last three months we have found 55 underage married girls and one unmarried girl. Many women deliberately refuse to register for the monthly census of pregnant and lactating mothers conducted by the Women and Child Development Department.
Many cases remain unreported due to social pressure, fear of defamation and authorities. According to Sangeeta Salve, State Council Member of Asha and Group Promoter Federation in Maharashtra, ‘The health of young pregnant and newborn mothers has also deteriorated due to this. This causes many health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes. He said that child marriage is the main cause of many health problems and said that this social evil has to be completely eliminated. My message is, ‘Educate your daughter, save your daughter.’
Indira Congress Committee state vice-president Girija Pichad said that she has given a complaint to Akole Tehsildar, Women and Child Development Project Officer and Maharashtra State Commission for Women Chairperson Rupali Chakankar to stop this practice.
According to Inspector Mohan Borse of Akole Police Station, in 2022, 4 cases of sexual harassment against minor girls were reported around Akole Police Station. He said that 14 cases have been reported in 2023, 16 in 2024 and 10 in the first nine months of 2025.
The number of missing girls is especially worrying. He said, ’75 cases were reported in 2022, 102 in 2023, 84 in 2024 and 84 in the first nine months of 2025.’
