Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Apr 25: Government officials and volunteers of certain organizations intervened on Wednesday April 23 and stopped a child marriage that was sought to be solemnized on Thursday in the town, from taking place.

The 19-year-old son of Balakrishna Naik and Sumati couple from Ajjavar and 16-year-old daughter of Balakrishna Naik and Malati couple from Aletty village were in love with each other. The boy works as a construction worker, while the girl is a tenth standard student. Both the families had mutually agreed to hold the marriage function on Thursday April 24.

Narayan Neerabidire, child development project officer for the taluk, along with woman supervisor, Ravishree, president of Streeshakti Block Society, Saraswati Baddadka, ‘Asha’ scheme volunteer, Usha, and Anganwadi workers, visited the houses of the parents of both the would-be bride and groom, educated them about the legal requirements. They succeeded in  convincing them to postpone the marriage. CDPO later said that the parents have concurred to hold the marriage function after a gap of two years.

The girl, expecting to get married, had not appeared for the SSLC examination this year. The officials advised her to continue her studies. In a release, CDPO, who also happens to be the enforcement officer under The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, said that under Hindu Marriage Act 1955, conducting marriage of boys under the age of 21, and girls under the age of 18, happens to be a punishable offence. He also said that displaying ‘child marriage prohibited’ boards in marriage halls, temples etc in the taluk happens to be mandatory, and that the managements of these halls will attract penal provisions under the law if they allow child marriages to be held in their premises.