10 child marriages averted in Chamarajanagar, one in HD Kote

Mysuru: Chamarajnagar officials on Monday morning stopped 10 child marriages in the district, considered socially and economically backward. Another child marriage was stopped at HD Kote taluk in Mysuru district.
According to N R Vijay, child protection officer of Chamarajanagar, all the 10 marriages were stopped by the authorities, who included PDOs, police and officials from different departments.‘Three cases werer reported from Yelandur, Kollegal and Hanur taluks each, and one more from Chamarajanagar taluk,” he explained.
According to sources at the child helpline, another suspected case in Chamarajanagar taluk is being investigated.
“These marriages are done in early morning hours, say between 5.30am and 7.30am. During Covid crisis, lockdown-related anxiety and uncertainties force the parents to marry off their minor daughters. So there is a sudden spurt in such cases. Other reasons include pressure from family elders and community practices and the like,” Vijay added.
Meanwhile, HD Kote taluk also reported a child marriage on Monday. This is one of the many such cases reported in the district in the recent past.
E Dhananjaya, member of Mysuru Child Welfare Committee, said five child marriages were stopped on June 12, and another three on June 14. “Child Helpline 1098 received 32 complaints on child marriages between June 1 and 15. Thanks to timely action, all of them were stopped,” said Shashi Kumar, coordinator of the helpline in Mysuru.
“As many as 95 complaints were received between March 22 and June 15. People can share related on child marriages or any other issues relating to children by calling 1098. Details of callers will be kept confidential,” Kumar added.