Only girls dare report child marriage cases

Data from survey fails to present a clear picture

Child marriages are rampant and data collected for sample survey by the ministry of health and family welfare is under-reported, according to a study. It was found that earlier in Mahbubnagar, child marriages were reported to be 47 per cent. That fell to 8.3 per cent in 2012-13. The 2015-16 survey again put it at 45.6 per cent. This discrepancy tends to highlight that the numbers are conflicting and do not indicate the true facts.

Data with the National Crime Records Bureau showed that 27 per cent of abductions of children and teenagers in Telangana is for marriage. In most cases it was later found that the girl had agreed to get abducted as she wanted to marry.

A senior child protection officer said, “Parents are concerned about the security of a girl who drops out of school. Another worry is love-affair and eloping. Girls who want to study further are told to do it at their in-laws’ home. If the girl agrees, there is very little that anyone can do. Hence only those cases where the child is hesitant are coming forward.”

Surveillance generally fail to stop such marriages which shows that more needs to do done. A senior officer said, “We have to book cases not only against the parents but also relatives, neighbours, marriage hall owner, caterers and friends who are party to the marriage. But this is not happening. Cases are booked against the parents only and after counselling they are allowed to go. There are socio-economic reasons but the health, wellbeing and maturity of the girl has to be taken into account and it is important to enforce the law which has failed.”