A timely intervention by Women and Children Welfare Department officials and the police helped stop a child marriage at Honagera village in Yadgir taluk in the district on Tuesday.
According to Child Development Project Officer Vanajakshi Bendegera, the department received a tip-off about the proposed marriage of a minor girl, and with the help of the police and revenue officials, it stopped the marriage ritual in the nick of the time.
The bride, a 15-year-old girl, and the bridegroom, a 22-year-old man, belonged to Honagera village. Verification of school documents of the girl and the man revealed that the girl was aged around 15. Ms. Bendegera said that the parents of the girl and the groom were explained about the provisions of law that prohibits marriage of minor girls. They were then persuaded to give up the proposal.
“We also asked the parents from both the sides, villagers and community elders to give it in writing that the marriage of the minor girl would be performed only after she attained the age of 18,” she said.
She said that the bridegroom’s parents were, however, allowed to perform another marriage — that of their elder son after confirming that the bride and the bridegroom were major in age.
Revenue officials, police personnel and anganwadi workers accompanied Ms. Bendegera.
