51 girls aged under 14 yrs married off last year in Ch'nagar, says survey

As many as 2,195 children had dropped out of the schools in the district in the academic year 2013-14 and 51 girls, below the age of 14 years, were married off in violation of Child Marriage Act, according to a survey.

For the current academic year between June and December, as many as 349 children have dropped out of the schools, the survey by the Deputy Director of Public Instruction has stated.

A few NGOs had moved the High Court last year seeking direction to bring the children, who had dropped out of the schools, to the mainstream. The court then ordered a survey of the dropouts.

This year too, a door-to-door survey was conducted in all districts by a team comprising headmaster, assistant teacher, anganwadi workers and others.

Despite the implementation of Right to Education Act, providing free education, midday meal, Ksheera Bhagya, scholarships and other schemes in the district, a lot of students have bid adieu to the schools owing to family problems.

Child marriage

The OBCs (Other Backward Castes) make up for a large population of the district. Child marriage is prevalent among many communities.

In some communities girls are married off even before they attain puberty. Many girls have already fallen prey to the heinous practice.

Further, apathy among the parents to send their children to school has  also been cited as a major reason for dropout problem.

However, according to the Department Of Public Instruction officers of the 2,195 dropouts, the department has already brought 842 children to mainstream education through various activities, 231 have migrated to other places, 51 girls married off, 648  have crossed 14 years, 202 have been readmitted to schools, 213 have been deprived of schooling due to parental apathy and eight children had passed away.

Among the 349 dropouts for the year 2014-15 (June-December), 185 are boys and 164 girls in the age group of 6 - 13.

“Steps have been taken bring 188 children to the mainstream society through various activities,” said Sarva Shikshan Abiyaan Planning Deputy Co-ordinator N Gurulingaiah.
“Eighteen children will study in a madrassa while the rest will be brought to mainstream education through bridge courses like Setubanda, Chinnara Angala and others,” he added.

The Department of Public Instruction will submit the findings of the survey to the High Court on January 8.