Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Jan 1: Officials of women and child welfare department stopped a child marriage that had been arranged at Tallur Guddeangady near here. The marriage was to take place at Mahaganapathi auditorium at Trasi in the taluk.

The relatives from the two sides had agreed to perform the marriage of a 17-year-old girl from Guddeangady village with a 28-year-old groom. Over 200 people had gathered at the said hall for the marriage ceremony. Immediately after they got information about this illegal marriage, Udupi district child protection unit personnel, officials of women and child development department, police personnel from Gangolli and officials of Trasi gram panchayat rushed to the marriage hall and stopped the proceedings.

The officials created awareness about the repercussions of performing child marriage among the people from both the sides, informed them about the legal provisions, and got bonds executed by the family members, hall owner and the priest. The people who had gathered at the hall were sent back home.

Legal surveillance officer of the district child protection unit Prabhakar Achar, Assistant child development project officer Shobha Shetty and others were present.