Dikhyaa Mohanty 
The child marriage rate of girls in Odisha is a massive rate of 20.5 per cent, which was revealed by the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5. Six districts of the State feature above the national average of child marriage among states.
According to the reports, the district of Nabarangpur reported the maximum (39.4%) cases of child marriage. Similarly, Nayagarh has 35.7%, Koraput has 35.5%, Rayagada at 33.2%, Malkangiri, 32.4%, and Mayurbhanj has 31.3% girl children getting married off before they turned adult.
Further, the child marriage rate among boys is relatively lower, at 13.3%. Sandhyabati Pradhan, Chairperson of Odisha State Commission for Protection Of Child Rights (OSCPCR) stated that the practice is particularly increasing in tribal-dominated areas. They will have to make the community aware leaders aware to put a check on this practice in the tribal-dominated districts. The figures are particularly worrying given the fact that despite awareness among people, they do not hesitate to marry of their daughters before the age of 18.
