Social Welfare Department and Childline officials have rescued a prospective child bride by stopping her marriage scheduled to take place at Ramasamypatti near Kamuthi on Monday morning.
After a person called the helpline ‘1098’ and informed about the proposed marriage, District Social Welfare officer A.S.P. Manimegalai, Childline Director K. Devaraj and Coordinator K. Balamurugan visited the village on Saturday, and stopped the marriage.
The 14-year-old girl, studying Class X in the local Government Higher Secondary School, was about to be married to her maternal uncle Thirumurugan (26), working in Dubai when the officials intervened and foiled the attempt.
Mr.Balamurugan said the girl’s parents, supported by a family member, a local ruling party leader, declined to stop the marriage when an extension officer from the Social Welfare Department visited them on Friday and advised them against the marriage.
However, officials, accompanied by local Inspector of Police Anandan, panchayat president and village administrative officer visited them on Saturday morning and stopped the marriage. The officials obtained statements from the parents of the child bride and groom that they would conduct the wedding only after the girl attained 18 years of age.
