CPC succeeds in stopping 26 child marriages during lockdown in district

By Lokmat English Desk | Published: January 11, 2021 07:05 PM2021-01-11T19:05:01+5:302021-01-11T19:05:01+5:30

Aurangabad, Jan 11: The Child Protection Committee (CPC) has succeeded in preventing 26 child marriages from March to December ...

CPC succeeds in stopping 26 child marriages during lockdown in district | CPC succeeds in stopping 26 child marriages during lockdown in district

CPC succeeds in stopping 26 child marriages during lockdown in district

Aurangabad, Jan 11:

The Child Protection Committee (CPC) has succeeded in preventing 26 child marriages from March to December (a majority of them were attempted to be conducted in the lockdown period) in the district. Meanwhile, the committee had filed an offence against guardian in one case as the information reached after the marriage was performed.

The District Women and Child Development Officer (DWCDO) is the responsibility for implementation of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006. Accordingly, the CPC is formed at each village-level, and the sarpanch and Anganwadi worker are the designated president and secretary of it. The other members include respected persons of the village, gram panchayat members, office-bearers and volunteers.

According to DWCDO Harsha Deshmukh, " The government has started an awareness drive in Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Hingoli and Osmanabad districts with the help of Social Behaviour Communication and under the guidance of Unicef. Meanwhile, the district collector, along with deputy chief executive officer (ZP's panchayat section) and DWCDO are planning to execute the action plan. The collector had conducted a meeting in this regard recently."

It is observed that the child marriages got increased during the lockdown period as the villagers were at homes, therefore, the marriages were solemnised in the four walls in the presence of a limited number of invitees and spending less money. The information about child marriages reached through children's helpline number 1098; some made anonymous calls and few of them informed by contacting the committee in person. Hence the CPC succeeded in stopping 26 marriages from March to December. In one case at Paithan, the committee came to know after the conduct of the child marriage, therefore, the case has been registered in this regard.

Deshmukh added, " Aurangabad district was on the second position in preventing child marriages in the state during the lockdown period. It is a matter of concern as there is a rise in child marriages. The responsible citizens should contact us, and we will not reveal their identities. I appeal to the guardians and relatives not to marry their sons and daughters till the completion of their prescribed age."

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There are 867-gram panchayats in the district. Of which, the CPC are in 465 villages, and 402 villages are yet to form it. We had undertaken a training programme for gram sevaks and talathis so that they could stop the child marriages, said Deshmukh. As per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, the age of bridegroom and bride should not be less than 21 years and 18 years, respectively. After registration of offence, there could be punishment up till two years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs one lakh to the person getting married an underage, those encouraging the family to do so and the invitees as well. If the marriage is stopped, then the family is counselled and the offence is not registered, it is learnt.

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