In Gulmi district, although no cases related to child marriage have been registered with the police for the past three years, the number of adolescent mothers has been found to be significant. This challenges the claim that child marriage has been completely eliminated in the district.
According to Krishna Prasad Panthi, information officer at the District Health Office, Gulmi, there are 169 mothers under the age of 20. This number represents women who became pregnant and came for their first antenatal check-up.
According to local levels, the highest number of mothers under 20 years of age is in Musikot Municipality with 34 cases, followed by 20 in Resunga Municipality. Similarly, there are 22 in Malika Rural Municipality, 19 each in Isma and Madane, 16 in Gulmidarbar, 14 in Chandrakot, 13 in Chhatrakot, 10 each in Dhurkot, Rurukshetra, and Kaligandaki, and 9 in Satyawati Rural Municipality.
Based on total deliveries, around 14 percent of pregnant women are under the age of 20. Early marriage has been linked to issues such as a lack of birth registration, loss of various opportunities due to unregistered marriages, legal difficulties in divorce, and adverse health impacts.
It has been observed that due to ethnic and economic reasons, some underage couples are forced to separate, while in similar circumstances, child marriages often take place in secrecy. During an orientation program organized by the Social Division Office, Palpa, most local levels were unable to present clear data on child marriage.
Vice Chairperson of Satyawati Rural Municipality, Nirmaya Taramu, stated that many cases come to light only after problems arise following marriages at a school age. Administrative Officer of Chandrakot Rural Municipality, Shiv Prasad Gnyawali, complained that the federal and provincial governments have not given sufficient priority to child marriage and child rights.
Tahashildar R.P. Pokharel of the District Court, Palpa, stated that child marriage is a serious crime with long-term consequences and emphasized the need for its reduction. Of the 357 civil cases registered at the District Court, Gulmi, in the current fiscal year, 261 are divorce cases, in which child marriage has played a significant role, according to him.
Acting Chief of the Social Division Office, Palpa, Laxman Ghimire, stressed the need for a shared effort to end child marriage and the development of an effective information system. Chief of the District Coordination Committee, Gulmi, Dron Bahadur Khatri, mentioned that policy issues, budget constraints, and lack of social empowerment remain challenges in ending child marriage.