JOIN USMessage on wheels against child marriage, discontinuing school
With frequent reports of child marriages challenging the preventive measures taken by the district administration, a mobile awareness campaign was launched on Wednesday.
The two-day campaign, titled ‘Balya Vivaha Thade’ and ‘Shale Kade Nanna Nade,’ will traverse different parts of the taluks in the district.
Flagging off the campaign at the district court complex here, principal district and sessions court judge Prabhavati M Hiremath explained the significance of the initiative to bring back dropouts to school by educating people about the benefits of education.
“On the other hand, it also helps in increasing awareness level among parents against forcing their minor wards for marriage, eventually to get rid of the social malady,” the judge added.
Additional Deputy Commissioner M L Vaishali said, “It is intended at bringing back the dropout students to mainstream, within the stipulated period.”
Child Welfare Committee (CWC) president H C Nataraj said, “It is targeting students who have taken up callous jobs at hotels and garages and aims at helping them continue their education.”
The van is equipped with audiovisual presentations on the ill-effects of child marriage and the benefits of education. The awareness programmes will be conducted at schools and on gram panchayat office premises. The campaign will cover Karthikeri, Marle, Belavadi, Kalasapura and Lakhya villages in the taluk.
Nataraj said, 10 cases of child marriage were reported in 2016-17 in the district. The campaign will focus on creating awareness on legal aspects, as child marriage is a punishable offence.
The legal age for marriage for groom is 21 years and 18 for bride groom, he reminded.
Senior civil judge M Ramesh, Bar Association president H E Azad Ali Khan, deputy director of Women and Child Development Department K C Basavarajaiah were present.