Chamarajanagar (Karnataka): Acting swiftly on tip-offs, the Department of Women and Child Development (DWCD) on Monday prevented as many as seven child marriages in Chamarajanagar district.
According to reports, the department was alerted about the scheduled wedding of a 15-year-old girl in Indiganatta village at 5 am today. Officials then rushed to the spot and prevented the wedding. They then educated the parents of the girl about the laws and told them how child marriage was illegal in India.
Similarly, weddings of a 16-year-old girl and 14-year-old girl were prevented in Arakalavadi and YK Mole village respectively. The department officials later prevented child marriages in Amachavadi and Shettihalli as well.
Pertinently, the department along with the child helpline successfully prevented 20 child marriages this month, and 18 such marriages in May. However, three child ma rriages took place in May, and subsequently FIRs were filed in the matter.
Today however, officials did not file any complaint against the parents of the children who were to be married today. Instead, they chose to educate the parents about the laws and tried to convince them against the idea of child marriage.
According to UNICEF, at least 1.5 million girls under the age of 18 get married every year in India. This stat makes India home to the largest number of child brides in the world - accounting for a third of the global total.
Though numbers have steadily declined over the past few years, reports suggest that the figures are still way too high in India.
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