Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Jan 31: A workshop was organized for judges of Dakshina Kannada district at the court premises here on Sunday January 31 on the implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

The day-long workshop was inaugurated by principal district and sessions judge Uma M G.

Addressing the gathering Uma M G said, "This seminar has been organized on the implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 according to the guidlines given by high court and the government. Statistically, about 15 million child marriages are reported in a year worldwide, which is alarming. Fortunately in Dakshina Kannada, no such incidents have been reported lately. I thank the district administration for this.

"Dakshina Kannada is known to be a district of the educated and an evidence for this is that officers have succeeded in stopping child marriage. In our society female child is considered a burden. This may be one of the causes for child marriage.

"But today, women have come forward and they are no less than men. We should say no to child marriage because the young couple will not be mentally and physically prepared, nor will they be financially stable to take the responsibility of a married life. It also deprives them of their basic right to education. The anti-child marriage law was framed back in 1929 and was amended in 1949 and then in 2006. The law may be blind but not the judges. We should know how to see the accused and what action needs to be taken. I call upon all the judges to work more sensibly in this matter," she said.

Deputy commissioner A B Ibrahim said, "Even after 68 years of Independence, we are discussing the same issue of child marriage and its consequences which is very disheartening. In the 18th century Raja Rammohan Roy and many other social reformers had made lots of effots to eradicate the Sati system. Incidents of child marriage come to light only in mass weddings and community weddings. But the ones which take place separately do not come to light. It is a social problem and needs to be tackled with the cooperation of various stakeholders like lawyers, activists and police. They also need to be educated through seminars. When officials go to stop child marriage they face embarassing questions like 'will you marry the girl', to which they do not have answers. It is the mindset of people that needs to change. Dakshina Kannada is an educated district and the decreasing sex ratio, which is down from 1,163 to 1,119 women per 1000 male, is worrying. The approach of society in this regard needs to change."

Senior judge M B Shankar Bhat, principal judge of family court Byndoor Shankar Rao, Sr Lydia Serrao and others were present.