Belagavi
Notwithstanding the numerous initiatives rolled out by both the state and central governments to curb child marriages, the social evil continues to be prevalent in the border district, the home district of Women and Child Welfare Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar.
According to Women and Child Welfare Department sources, 12 child marriages have been registered between April 1 and August 31. Nine of those weddings had taken place in Savadatti taluk alone. Sources say a total of 16 child marriages had taken place between April 2022 and March 2023.
Sister J Lourd Mary, Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee, said it is unfortunate that child marriages are still taking place in a secret way, especially in rural areas. More unfortunate thing is girls getting pregnant at a minor age after the wedding. In many cases, Anganwadi teachers are aware but they don’t disclose it due to pressure from the villagers. Sometimes, they give false information to us, she said.
Child Protection Officer GT Lokesh says that they are striving to raise awareness about the ills of child marriage, and are being assisted by Police, Health, and Education departments. We are also conducting awareness programmes in villages, despite which parents are getting their children married in a secretive manner. Some of them take their children to neighbouring Maharashtra or Goa for the wedding. Earlier, weddings used to be held at the Vaijnath temple in Maharashtra. The priests at the shrine had been asked to alert local cops if they were approached to preside over a wedding of a child. Amid all this, the department has successfully prevented 152 child marriages in the past 17 months. At least 120 child marriages were prevented during the year 2022-23 and 32 between April 1 and July 31.
