The increasing atrocities against women and young girls are forcing parents to marry off their daughters even before they complete schooling. The situation is grim in Krishna district where nearly 30 child marriages were reported in the last fortnight.
Officials prevented more than 20 weddings, while some took place even before they reached the venues, police said. Child marriages were prevented at Vijayawada, Avanigadda, Gudivada, Machilipatnam, Vissannapet, Mudinepalli, Mandavalli and Tiruvuru in the district.
“We hear pathetic stories from brides and their parents. But, most of them [parents] express fear of sexual assaults on minor girls as reported in the media,” said counsellor Ch. Vijaya Lakshmi.
Krishna District Women Development and Child Welfare (WD&CW) Project Director K. Krishna Kumari said child marriages were rampant in the district, and that officials were holding awareness camps in villages with the support of NGOs to curb the practice.
“Parents cite a number of reasons for marrying off their minor children, but we explain the other side of the practice,” said Child Welfare Committee Chairman B. Nagesh Rao.
According to psychologist T.S. Rao, child marriages are common among lower castes. He stressed the need for creating awareness about health implications for girls.
“My sister asked me to take care of her 14-year-old daughter two years ago, as she had fallen sick. Not able to give dowry, we did not send her to school and married her off. But, the WD&CW, Revenue and police officials counselled us, as my daughter was just 16,” said Sakkubai, the mother of a bride.
Child Protection Officer Rama Devi said Sakkubai had been told not to send her daughter to her in-laws’ house till turned 18. “We counselled the bride, and officials will follow up the case,” she added.
