898 child marriages prevented in lockdown period: Smriti Irani

The Women and Child Development Ministry's emergency helpline Childline 1098 prevented 898 child marriages during the lockdown imposed in view of the coronavirus outbreak, Union minister Smriti Irani said on Wednesday. She further said Childline 1098 made necessary interventions in response to over 18,200 calls.

New Delhi: Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on Wednesday informed on Twitter that the emergency helpline number 1098 of Women and Child Development prevented around 898 child marriages in the lockdown period (March 20 to April 20). The helpline has received over 6 lakh cases and as many as 18,200 calls that required intervention.

Maximum calls to intervene in child marriages were received from 5 states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Telangana and Andra Pradesh.

Other calls required help against child trafficking, child labour, sexual and emotional abuse. In many cases, the calls were for requesting food for children during the lockdown period.

As per UNICEF India report, India has the largest number of child brides in the world. Estimates suggest that each year, at least 1.5 million girls under 18 get married in India. Nearly 16 per cent of adolescent girls aged 15-19 are currently married.

However, the prevalence of girls getting married before the age 18 has declined from 47 per cent to 27 per cent between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016.