Pledge taken to make Chamarajanagar child marriage-free district

A pledge was taken to make Chamarajanagar child marriage-free district across the district on Monday.

Ceremonies to take the pledge were held in front of district administration building in Chamarajanagar, taluk offices at various taluks, schools, colleges, police station and gram panchayats across the district.

Senior civil judge Eshwara administered the pledge against child marriage to officials gathered in front of the district administration building in Chamarajanagar.

Officials from the district administration, zilla panchayat, Police Department, Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, District Legal Services Authority, Women and Child Development Department, and district child protection unit were among those present at the ceremony.

Deputy Commissioner Shilpa Nag, who addressed the gathering, said the pledge to prevent child marriages must to taken with true intent and commitment.

Expressing concern that child marriages were still taking place in the district from time to time, she emphasised the need for effective awareness activities at the grassroots level to eradicate the menace.

Regretting that child marriages were still taking place in certain sections of society, Ms Nag said the age of some girls coming to hospitals for delivery were found to be under 18.

She lamented that girls were made to drop out of school and married off for the sake of “safety”.

“Becoming pregnant at a young age results in problems like anaemia and low birth babies,” she said, adding that district administration officials were taking strict measures against child marriages.

A total of 97 child marriages were successfully prevented last year, thanks to the efforts of officials, public and various organisations, she said.

She called upon officials to take the aim of making the district child marriage-free by November 14, seriously. “Let us all take a firm resolve to make our district child marriage-free,” she said.

Member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Venkatesh too called upon officials to remain strict, uncompromising and impartial in their efforts to end child marriages.

Chamarajanagar Zilla Panchayat CEO Mona Roat, Superintendent of Police, Chamarajanagar, B.T. Kavitha, and other officials were present.