Child marriages rampant in Anantapur

Anantapur: Human and Natural Resource Development Society (HANDS) is working with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) of the Woman and Child Welfare Department for eradication of child marriages and teen-age pregnancies through its project dubbed as 'Girls Advocacy Alliance'.

Talking to The Hans India, the project coordinator Kondappa said that he received as many as 136 complaints from 10 mandals in the district including Gooty, Guntakal, Tadipatri and other mandals relating to plans to perform child marriages from anonymous people and in a few instances from the child brides, who did not like to get married but pursue education beyond tenth grade.

The girls, who complained to the tollfree number, were aged between 13-15 years. About 42 complaints related to girls in the ages of 13-15 years. Most of the marriages fixed were foiled by the ICDS authorities, who are authorised to stop the marriages. Kondappa said his organisation is working with ICDS to educate the rural populace and even stall fixed child marriages.

Asked what prompted the parents of girls to perform marriages in the age below 18 years, Kondappa said there were several compulsions including insecurity of girls, who attained puberty as most of the parents leave their girls at home alone for the whole day making them vulnerable to influences from boys and sexual exploitation by boys.

The other reasons being love affairs, possibility of girls succumbing to pre-marital teen-age sex and pre-marital pregnancies etc which force parents to dispose them off after attaining puberty. Unable to take care of young girls financially is also another reason to pass on the responsibility to their son-in-law through early marriage.

Replying to a question, Kondappa stated that India stands first among top 10 countries where child marriages are rampant. 41 per cent of girls marry far under the age of 18 years in India. 45 per cent of girls below 18 become pregnant. In Anantapur district, 4,741 girls are still not attending schools. The drop-outs are vulnerable for child marriages. Complaints on child marriages may be made to tollfree number 1098 to curb the menace.