A Gujarat Health Department survey has uncovered a disturbing trend, with 341 minor girls aged 13-17 recorded as pregnant across the state between April and December 2025, highlighting persistent gaps in child protection and adolescent health services. The data, compiled by female health workers during routine maternal health outreach, revealed that Kadi taluka in Mehsana district topped the list with 88 cases, followed by Mehsana taluka itself with 80, while other districts like Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, and Patan also reported significant numbers. Health officials described the findings as a wake-up call, with many cases linked to early marriages, lack of awareness, and limited access to contraception and education in rural pockets.

Most pregnancies were detected during antenatal check-ups under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), where ASHA workers and auxiliary nurse midwives identified minors already in advanced stages of pregnancy. In several instances, girls as young as 14 were found to be married and expecting, often with the knowledge or involvement of families, despite the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, setting the legal age at 18 for girls. The Health Department has flagged these cases to district child protection units and police for action under the POCSO Act where applicable, though enforcement remains inconsistent in conservative communities.

Mehsana district, which accounts for nearly half the reported cases, has emerged as a hotspot, prompting local authorities to intensify awareness drives and school-level interventions. Health Commissioner R.R. Jadeja confirmed that medical teams are providing high-risk care to affected minors, many of whom face complications due to early pregnancies, including anaemia, low birth weight, and obstetric risks. The state has also directed district collectors to coordinate with the Women and Child Development Department to trace and counsel families involved.

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The revelations have sparked concern among activists, who point to Gujarat's relatively high rate of child marriages despite overall socio-economic progress. According to NFHS-5 data, nearly 20% of women aged 20-24 in the state were married before 18, with rural areas showing higher prevalence. NGOs have demanded stricter monitoring of anganwadis, schools, and village-level child protection committees to prevent such cases.

As the Health Department prepares a detailed report for the state government, the 341 pregnancies serve as a grim reminder of the challenges in enforcing child rights laws and providing reproductive health education in a state often projected as a model of development.

Authorities have pledged stronger interdepartmental action, but activists warn that without community-level behavioural change and accountability for officials turning a blind eye, minor pregnancies will continue to undermine Gujarat’s child welfare framework.

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