Recently, a short video from Balod district in Chhattisgarh captured the everyone’s attention. In the video, Divya Mishra, a 2012-batch IAS officer and the Collector of Balod, is seen gently styling a young schoolgirl’s hair during a school visit – a simple, motherly gesture that instantly resonated with people. The image of a senior administrator kneeling beside a child, tying her hair with care, reflected warmth, humility, and humanity rarely seen in positions of power.
The video went viral, drawing widespread admiration and blessings from people across the country. However, for those familiar with IAS Divya’s work, this moment was not an exception – it was a reflection of her everyday approach to governance. Behind this tender act lies a story of determined leadership, people-centric administration, and transformative social reform. Under her guidance, Balod has achieved a milestone that many districts still struggle with – becoming a child marriage-free district.
Indian Masterminds interacted with IAS Divya to learn more about the initiative, its implementation, its current status, and its impact.
An Officer Driven by Purpose
Born on Sep 2, 1969, IAS Divya has built a career marked by administrative rigor, compassion, and a strong commitment to education, women, and child welfare. She holds an M.Sc. in Chemistry from Awadhesh Pratap Singh (APS) University, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh. Over the years, she has held several key administrative positions, including Director of Public Instruction, and in late 2024, she was entrusted with additional responsibilities as Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and the State Literacy Mission Authority, Chhattisgarh.
Leadership That Made Balod Child Marriage-Free
One of the most remarkable achievements under her leadership is Balod’s declaration as a child marriage-free district. This success came as part of the Child Marriage Free India campaign, launched under the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 27, 2024, and the Child Marriage Free Chhattisgarh campaign, which began in the state around March–April 2024.
Explaining the process, officials involved in the mission said that the rules are clear: any gram panchayat or urban local body where no child marriage has occurred in the last two years can be officially declared child marriage-free.
“A gram sabha meeting is held, and it is unanimously resolved that no child marriage has taken place in the last two years. After verification, the Collector issues a certificate confirming this status,” the officer explained.
In Balod district, all 436 gram panchayats and nine urban local bodies fulfilled this criterion. After thorough verification and record checks, certificates were issued to each panchayat and urban body, officially declaring Balod child marriage-free on November 29, 2025.
“No girl below 18 years and no boy below 21 years should be married – this is the foundation of the law, and we ensured it was followed in letter and spirit,” Ms Divya emphasized.
Grassroots Vigilance and Strong Monitoring Mechanisms
To ensure zero tolerance toward child marriage, the administration implemented strict monitoring systems at the grassroots level. A separate marriage register was maintained in every panchayat, documenting all marriages that took place in the past two years.
Every panchayat secretary and sarpanch was designated as a Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO). Alongside them, supervisors and officials from the Women and Child Development Department, Child Development Project Officers, and District Programme Officers were also declared CMPOs.
“If any marriage is planned, the secretary verifies the age through Aadhaar and other documents. This micro-level vigilance helps us prevent violations before they happen,” an official noted.
Awareness campaigns were conducted continuously in schools, colleges, villages, and religious spaces. Priests, maulvis, musicians, caterers, and wedding venue providers were sensitized about the law, which prescribes up to two years of imprisonment and a fine of ₹1 lakh, or both.
Community Participation and Changing Mindsets
The success of the campaign rested heavily on community involvement. Leaders from all major communities – including the Sahu community, which constitutes nearly 40 percent of Balod’s population, along with the Dewangan and other communities – were actively engaged.
Ms Divya ensured that child marriage awareness became part of training sessions for newly elected sarpanches and public representatives.
“We spoke repeatedly about the Child Marriage Act so that every public representative understands their responsibility,” she said.
Educational institutions played a crucial role. Extensive tours were conducted in schools and colleges, and anganwadi workers and supervisors led awareness drives at the panchayat level. The movement grew from the bottom up, ensuring long-term social change.
Mission Adoption: Fighting Child Malnutrition
Beyond child marriage prevention, IAS Divya spearheaded impactful welfare initiatives. One such program was “Mission Adoption”, aimed at tackling severe child malnutrition.
At the time, Balod had nearly 1,000 severely acutely malnourished (SAM) children. Under the initiative, public representatives, officers, employees, and citizens were encouraged to adopt malnourished children by contributing ₹500 per child per month for three months.
With the funds, a local committee headed by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) provided high-protein nutrition, including ragi, chikki, peanuts, and jaggery.
The results were encouraging –
- 684 children were adopted
- 184 children became completely normal within three months (20.8%)
- 236 children improved from SAM to MAM or normal (around 35–36%)
Encouraged by the success, the district has decided to repeat Mission Adoption for another three months.
A World Record for Maternal Welfare
In another remarkable initiative, Balod district set a world record by organizing a mass Punsavan Sanskar (baby shower ceremony).
During a Gayatri Mahayagna with 108 fire pits, around 100 pregnant women from across the district participated simultaneously in the ritual. Previously, the record was held by Bemetara district, but Balod has now surpassed it.
“We have received the medal, and the certificate is awaited. This initiative celebrates motherhood and promotes positive maternal health practices,” officials said.
Impact and National Recognition
The collective efforts led to visible social change –
- School dropout rates among girls declined
- Attendance increased
- Families began choosing legal-age marriages
Community awareness deepened
A multi-layer verification survey, including checks by UNICEF and NGOs, confirmed zero child marriage cases over two years. Marriage registers, school records, and household data were verified before the final declaration.
“This success is the result of cooperation by the administration, public representatives, anganwadi workers, and the community. I thank all panchayats and urban bodies for their active participation,” Collector Divya said.
With all 436 gram panchayats and nine urban bodies certified, Balod became India’s first officially declared child marriage-free district, setting a benchmark for states where the issue still persists.
Compassion in Action
From gently tying a schoolgirl’s hair to steering a district-wide social transformation, IAS Divya Umesh Mishra’s journey in Balod exemplifies governance rooted in empathy. Her leadership proves that when administration listens, cares, and acts decisively, even deeply entrenched social issues can be overcome — one thoughtful initiative at a time.
