Two child marriages were stopped in Chittoor District on Friday. In the first incident in Palamaner, an orphaned girl (14) under the care of her relatives was about to marry a 25-year-old youth from the same town at a temple, when the volunteers of the Rural Organization for Poverty Eradication Services (ROPES) and the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) reached the spot and prevented it.
In another incident, a 13-year-old girl from Baireddipalle mandal in the district was engaged to a 24-year-old youth at Krishnagiri in Tamil Nadu. When the girl's father and relatives were making arrangements to take the girl to Krishnagiri for marriage on Sunday, the ROPES Child Helpline team rushed to the village and foiled their attempts.
In both cases, counselling was given to the elders and undertakings taken to desist from performing the marriages till the girls attained 18 years. Local police took part in the operation.
