Seminar on child marriage to be held in Kozhikode

The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), in alliance with the SFI, will organise in the city on October 4 a seminar on the importance of enforcing the Prevention of Child Marriage Act.

Agitation

The seminar is part of launching an agitation against the alleged attempts of a section of people with the silent support of the government “to reduce the age-limit for marriage,” said the AIDWA office-bearers in a press meet here.

Any attempt to dilute the existing laws regarding the age-limit for marriage would only adversely affect society’s progress.

The recent instances of the so-called

Arabikallyanam (a practice of marrying off girls from economically backward families, often below the age of 18, to citizens from the Gulf countries, for economic benefits of the girl’s family) should be seen in the backdrop of attempts by a section of society to tamper with the age-limit for marriage, said M.K. Nalini, secretary of the association.

She said such regressive tendencies should be strongly opposed.

“This is not an issue concerning any particular community. It’s a grave social issue,” she said.

Former Health Minister and AIDWA leader P.K. Sreemathi will inaugurate the seminar at Town Hall at 10 a.m.

Television journalist Fousiya Musthafa, writer and gynaecologist Khadeeja Mumtaz, and AIDWA State joint secretary P. Sathee Devi will speak at the seminar.