As many as 136 child marriages were stopped by the timely intervention of officials in the district. However, child marriages took place in a few villages that were not brought to the notice of the district administration. Hence, the public and volunteers should report the incidents of proposed child marriages to the Childline 1098 and ensure that no child marriage takes places in the district, said Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy on Sunday.
At Semmedu in Kolli Hills, he said that child marriage curbed the rights of children and affected them and society. “Parents fail to understand that marriages for boys and girls should be performed only after they complete 21 and 18 years respectively,” he added. He said that performing marriage for a child, who was physically and mentally not prepared, was a crime and violations would result in action against parents and middlemen.
“The law paves the way for two years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs. 1 lakh for conducting child marriages,” he added. The Collector said that the public should realise their responsibility and inform the Childline if they came across child marriages in their area.
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Earlier, he flagged off an awareness rally against child marriage in which students, public and members of women self-help group participated. District Social Welfare Officer Sherin Philip and Kolli Hills Panchayat Union president Chandrasekaran participated.