319 girls rescued from child marriage in district

More marriages in four taluks of Mandya

Even as the government is leaving no stone unturned to create awareness against child marriage, the available statistics here speaks otherwise. In the last three years, 319 such underaged girls marriages have been stopped, with many more such cases going unreported.

The common reasons are love affairs, sick parents, illiteracy, poverty, academic failures and others. When compared to urban areas, the number of girls falling prey is high in the rural  areas, with girls in the age group of 13 to 16 years being the victims.

Once they are tipped off, the activists belonging to Child Helpline, an NGO and District Child Protection Unit officials act swiftly and try to prevent the marriage. There are instances, where the wedding ceremony gets over by the time the officials visit the place.
Majority of the child marriages have been reported from four taluks-Nagamangala, Malavalli, Srirangapatna and Pandavapura taluks.

Child Welfare Committee Director B T Vishwanath said that the gram panchayat development officers have been directed to make it compulsory for the girls to obtain certificate of age proof from the GP for marriage.

Director of Child Helpline Mikkere Venkatesh said they will be informed in the nick of time, making it difficult for them to reach the place on time. While the marriages are over in most of the cases, a few make good their escape. There are also few, who pick up a quarrel   with the officials.

In case the wedding is over and the girl is a minor, the bridegroom should bear the educational expenses of the girl till she attains 18 years. The girl should be in her maternal house till she turns a major. The groom is penalised and should also bear the charges of the choultry, cook and other expenses incurred by the brides parents.

Diwakar, Child Welfare Officer, District Child Protection Committee said awareness programmes are being held among the parents against child marriages.