Alert minor girl helps stop child marriage

SURAT: A phone call made to 181 Abhayam Woman Helpline helped save two 15-year-old girls, who were forced into marriage allegedly by their parents in Dindoli area of the city.
One of them was already married while another was being forced to tie the knot. Parents of both the girls are labourers in textile industry and migrated from Maharashtra.
The girl, who was forcefully married off in May, was being pressurized by her parents to return to her husband's house in Malegaon.The girl was, however, unwilling and called up the 181 helpline. The helpline alerted child protection officer of Surat. For immediate action, police was also contacted and alerted about the child marriage.
"The caller girl said that she wanted to continue studies and didn't want to settle down in marriage. She also alerted us about another minor girl in her neighbouring locality who was being forced to get married by her parents," said Mitisha Patel, counsellor of the helpline.
"On being altered, police reached their houses and discussed the issue with their parents. The parents were told about the law by police and the minor girls were stopped from being pushed into marriage," said Kartik Mehta, marketing head of the helpline.
S J Baloch, police inspector, Dindoli police station, said, "We received information through child protection officer and we provided assistance to them to take action. The cases are being handled by the officer right now."
"One girl was married in Malegaon in Maharashtra and the case is being transferred there. We have asked the family to furnish marriage papers. Another girl is also minor but not married. Her parents have been told not to push her and they have dropped the plan of marriage as of now," said Jayendra Thakor, district child protection officer.