Administration took major action, stopped child marriage

Mahasamund. The team of Women and Child Development Department stopped the marriage of a 16-year-old minor girl in Bijrabhantha. The team counseled the girl’s family and termed the marriage of a boy below 21 years of age and a girl below 18 years of age as child marriage and termed it as a crime. The team later also went to the boy’s house in Chandkhuri. Explained to the family members there also. Both the parties assured the team to get the marriage done only after the boy turns 21 and the girl turns 18. Chandrahas Nag, Project Officer, Women and Child Development Department, Basna, said that after immediately reaching Bijrabhantha on information, Sector Supervisor Pushpa Raj, Sarpanch Kumar Singh Choudhary were asked to check the age related documents. On which the Anganwadi worker found the girl’s date of birth as 13 January 2008 in the documents related to the girl’s birth. On the basis of which the age was found to be 16 years 02 months, the family members were told that your daughter is not yet an adult.

Anganwadi workers Rashmi Bariha, Christina Garudh, head constable Rajesh Kumar Soni, constable Harishchandra Khunte, Yuchand Banshe, former sarpanch Santram Nayak gave advice and got the Panchnama done and instructed to get married after completing 18 years. Anganwadi worker told that girls cannot be married at a young age. The team of Women and Child Department explained to the family of the minor girl that child marriage ends childhood. Child marriage has a negative impact on children’s education, health and protection. Child marriage has a direct impact not only on girls, but also on their families and communities. A girl who is married at a young age increases the risk of becoming a victim of domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. Minor girls also often die due to serious problems during pregnancy and childbirth. It was told that marrying a girl at an early age is a crime and there is a provision of 2 years of punishment in it.