Higher secondary schools in the district will soon display warnings against child marriage.
The display boards will also give the phone number of Child Marriage Prevention Officers (CMPO) so that any student can alert them if any girl is getting married before 18 years of age.
Schools have been asked to ensure that no student gets married before they turn 18 years, and make use of the parent-teacher bodies and school management committees for prevention of child marriages.
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District Collector Amit Meena issued an order on Wednesday seeking the active involvement of higher secondary schools in the prevention of child marriages in the district.
A social issue
The incidence of child marriage has continued without any change in the district in spite of increased efforts to prevent this social issue.
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Mr. Meena asked the schools to report any incidence of child marriage either to the Child Marriage Prevention Officer or District Child Protection Officer or the nearest police station. He has given the telephone numbers of 29 Child Marriage Prevention Officers working in the district.
HSS students
Child Protection Officer Sameer Machingal said that all victims of child marriages reported so far in the district were higher secondary students.
He said child marriage was the prime reason for school dropouts in the district.
Mr. Meena said creating awareness among students and parents was necessary.
He said all PTAs should include child marriage prevention as a major agenda of their activities. By using PTAs, the schools should reach out to the parents with the message against child marriage.
Screen ‘Pathinettu’
The Collector also asked the schools to arrange screening of Pathinettu , a short film made by the District Child Protection Unit on the basis of a the real-life story of a minor girl who fights against her father’s attempts to marry her off.
The Collector has asked the Higher Secondary Regional Director to get back to him with the feedback about the action against child marriage.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Prakash R.T. had recently issued an order asking magistrates in the district to take proactive action to prevent child marriages.
A Manjeri court had prevented nine potential child marriages being planned at Karuvarakundu a few months ago after being reported by Childline. Similarly, a Nilambur court had stalled 12 child marriages in Moothedam panchayat on a single day.