Daijiworld Media Network - Thane

Thane, Feb 26: In a timely intervention, authorities in Thane district, Maharashtra, successfully halted an attempt to marry off a 16-year-old girl to a 24-year-old man from Solapur.

The Child Welfare Department in Pune received an anonymous tip-off, prompting immediate action to prevent the marriage ceremony in Ulhasnagar.

Ramkrishna Reddy, Thane's Child Welfare Officer, stated, "Upon receiving the alert, our team arrived at the venue where both families and guests had gathered for the wedding."

After stopping the ceremony, officials engaged with the families involved. The girl's family explained that her father was critically ill, leading them to expedite the marriage.

Legal action has been initiated against the groom, both families, the officiating priest, and others under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The minor girl has been placed in a remand home for her safety.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) highlights the severe consequences of child marriage, including deprivation of childhood, hindrance to education, health risks, and increased vulnerability to domestic violence and early childbirth complications. Despite a decline in child marriage rates, it remains a significant concern, disproportionately affecting girls.