Child marriages up in state, says panel chief

A social worker rescued a class 10 student who was being forced to marry someone nearly a decade older than her, recently. 

The Karnataka State Commission for protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) recently rescued Ananya (name changed) from her father’s plot to get her married. According to a source with KSCPCR, one of Ananya’s family members approached the Praja Parivartana Vedike following which the commission intervened. A complaint was lodged with the Parappana Agrahara police and her parents were detained.

According to KSCPCR, the number of children being married off is on the rise. Of these children, Kripa Alva, chairperson, KSCPCR said that mostly 90% are girls. Parents cite their inability to bear their expenses and apprehensions about their security. 

Nagasimha G Rao, activist, Child Rights Trust said that most girl children are married off soon after they complete class 10 exams.

Also, it is mostly during mass marriages that children are married off. Rao explained that some parents fear the girl child might elope with someone at teenage and hence get them married off.

“There are over 23,000 Child Marriage Prevention Officers in the state. Even a school principal is a child marriage prevention officer. Most of them are not even aware of their responsibilities,” he added.
DH News Service