<p>Those who organise such ceremonies need to obtain permission from the authorities concerned and also compulsorily submit a medical/school certificate confirming the age of brides, Justice Shivraj V Patil, Chairman of the Core Committee for Prevention of Child Marriage, said on Saturday.<br /><br />Child marriage rampant<br /><br />Addressing reporters here, he said such measures to control and regulate mass marriages were essential in preventing rampant child marriages across Karnataka. <br /><br />Besides, mass marriages should be conducted in the presence of an officer of the Women and Child Development Department.<br /><br />He said it was noted personalities who usually organised mass marriages. They should take the responsibility of ensuring that child marriages do not take place, said Justice Patil, a retired Supreme Court judge who also heads a one-man commission on the 2G spectrum scam.<br /><br />Action plan<br /><br />The State government set up the core committee in November last year to prepare an action plan to prevent child marriages, after a direction from the Karnataka High Court.<br />There have been several allegations of child marriages at mass marriages conducted in various parts of North Karnataka. <br /><br />For instance, child rights activists alleged that there were about 69 minor couples at a mass marriage organised by Health Minister Sriramulu’s Fans Association in Gadag district in October 2010. As many as 39 couples who tied the knot during a ceremony at Kalghatagi in Bellary in March 2010 too were minors.<br /><br />Child marriage has been abolished under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. But the practice is rampant in nine districts of North Karnataka - Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Bellary, Gadag, Dharwad, Raichur and Koppal. <br /><br />An average of 48 per cent to 68 per cent of marriages are child marriages in these districts. The overall State average is 58 per cent, Justice Patil said.<br /><br />Field visits<br /><br />The core committee plans to conduct field visits to the nine districts in March and April and hold consultations with local officials and non-government organisations. It will submit its action plan within six months, Justice Patil said.<br /><br />Those who have suggestions in this regard can contact the committee office at Room 133, 1st Floor, Vikasa Soudha. <br /><br />They can also call phone numbers 080-22352152/ 22034004.</p>
<p>Those who organise such ceremonies need to obtain permission from the authorities concerned and also compulsorily submit a medical/school certificate confirming the age of brides, Justice Shivraj V Patil, Chairman of the Core Committee for Prevention of Child Marriage, said on Saturday.<br /><br />Child marriage rampant<br /><br />Addressing reporters here, he said such measures to control and regulate mass marriages were essential in preventing rampant child marriages across Karnataka. <br /><br />Besides, mass marriages should be conducted in the presence of an officer of the Women and Child Development Department.<br /><br />He said it was noted personalities who usually organised mass marriages. They should take the responsibility of ensuring that child marriages do not take place, said Justice Patil, a retired Supreme Court judge who also heads a one-man commission on the 2G spectrum scam.<br /><br />Action plan<br /><br />The State government set up the core committee in November last year to prepare an action plan to prevent child marriages, after a direction from the Karnataka High Court.<br />There have been several allegations of child marriages at mass marriages conducted in various parts of North Karnataka. <br /><br />For instance, child rights activists alleged that there were about 69 minor couples at a mass marriage organised by Health Minister Sriramulu’s Fans Association in Gadag district in October 2010. As many as 39 couples who tied the knot during a ceremony at Kalghatagi in Bellary in March 2010 too were minors.<br /><br />Child marriage has been abolished under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. But the practice is rampant in nine districts of North Karnataka - Belgaum, Bidar, Bijapur, Bagalkot, Bellary, Gadag, Dharwad, Raichur and Koppal. <br /><br />An average of 48 per cent to 68 per cent of marriages are child marriages in these districts. The overall State average is 58 per cent, Justice Patil said.<br /><br />Field visits<br /><br />The core committee plans to conduct field visits to the nine districts in March and April and hold consultations with local officials and non-government organisations. It will submit its action plan within six months, Justice Patil said.<br /><br />Those who have suggestions in this regard can contact the committee office at Room 133, 1st Floor, Vikasa Soudha. <br /><br />They can also call phone numbers 080-22352152/ 22034004.</p>
