Under-age urban girls married with pomp

According to a report by ActionAid India, nearly 10.3 crore Indians are married before they turn 18 and a majority of them are girls. The report also states that although child marriage is often linked to socioeconomic conditions, a significant number of child marriages take place even in socio-economically well-off areas in states like undivided Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka.

An official from the Women and Child Welfare Department, Telangana, says, “Child brides are common in urban areas too even though their age is 16 or a little more. Normally we attribute child marriage to very young age between eight and 12 years which is commonly seen in rural areas. Despite being educated and well to do, marriage before the legal age of 18 continues to take place in developed areas with great pomp and show.”

G. Vijaylakshmi, a lawyer, says, “The law does not bend according to convenience. Getting a girl child married even months before she turns 18 is illegal. I have seen many cases where the same happens in well off families where girls are married off as soon as they finish their schooling. The newly introduced Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act clearly states that a girl is a minor until she is 18 years old and any physical act against her will be treated as rape.There is also the child marriage act to look after her. Despite all these, we continue to see cases.”

P. Sharada, district child protection officer from Kurnool, says, “I have had 177 registered cases of child marriage in my district alone. Normally after a case is registered, we counsel the parents before letting the child go back with them. There might be a lot of unregistered cases too especially from affluent families because no one will raise their voices.”

Kishan Kumar, Child Rights Activist says, “Pushing a child into marriage when they are not emotionally or physically equipped should be dealt with strictly. More stringent implementation of laws should be followed.”

ANY ACT against the will of a girl below 18 years is treated as rape.

WELL-TO-DO families also tend to marry off their daughters as soon as they finish school.