Vijayapur
Deputy Commissioner Dr. Anand K has said that strong inter-departmental coordination is essential to completely eradicate the social evil of child marriage in the district.
Chairing a review meeting on women welfare programmes at the Deputy Commissioner’s office on Wednesday, he directed officials to ensure that vigilance committees at the gram panchayat level meet regularly and actively spread awareness about child marriage prevention. He stressed that all departments must work together to ensure children are provided with a safe and dignified childhood.
The DC instructed officials to intensify awareness campaigns using jingles, local outreach programmes, and rural sanitation networks. He also urged citizens to immediately report any suspected child marriage cases to child helpline services or concerned authorities.
According to official data presented in the meeting, 13 child marriages were successfully prevented in March 2026. Out of 14 reported cases, timely intervention by officials ensured that most incidents were stopped before they could be solemnised. No FIRs were registered during the period due to preventive action.
The district has also made progress in addressing domestic violence cases under relevant legal provisions. Out of 184 cases, 29 were resolved through counselling, 4 were disposed of through court orders, while 151 cases are currently under various stages of resolution, particularly in Vijayapura city and Indi regions.
Dr. Anand K emphasized that emotional support and counselling are as important as legal action in women welfare cases. He said officials must focus on restoring family harmony wherever possible while ensuring justice for victims.
The meeting also reviewed cases under the POCSO Act and discussed strengthening child protection mechanisms. Senior officials, including SP Lakshman Nimbargi, participated in the meeting.