Child Marriage Now Hits India's IT Hub

Officials of the Child Marriage Prohibition Cell of the department were surprised and upset to get a complaint of a Panchayat development officer (PDO) in Moodalayapalya in Bangalore West who was all set to marry a 13-year-old girl. "Her parents said they wanted to marry off their daughter before her grandmother dies. The groom said he didn't want to hurt the sentiments of his parents,” said officials, as reported by TOI.

MS Jayaswamy, joint director of the department, said “Many parents give poverty as the main reason and early marriage is one way to get rid of the "responsibility". Due to the cell’s timely alertness and involvement this evil practice is prevented from occuring.

Superstitious beliefs of getting a girl married to avoid any further misfortune to the family, etc., are also reasons for such marriages, according to M Veena, deputy director (child marriage prohibition cell). She also said, "We're creating more awareness regarding the law pertaining to child marriages and the ill-effects of such early marriages".

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has recently brought to the notice of the government officials to totally eradicate social evils such as child marriage and child labour.

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