Karnataka tops country in child marriages

BENGALURU: Karnataka has reported the highest number of child marriages — 185 — in the country in 2020 and it’s 66% more than 111 cases recorded in 2019, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Assam came a distant second with 138 child marriages in 2020, West Bengal 98, Tamil Nadu 77 and Telangana 62.
According to the Karnataka women and child welfare department, 2,074 child marriages were prevented between February and November 2020 when Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak.The highest number of child marriages averted was in Ballari (218), followed by Mysuru (177), Belagavi (131) and Chikkaballapura and Chitradurga (107 each). In the same period, 20 child marriages cases were prevented in Bengaluru.
In the same period, FIRs were registered in 108 child marriages across the state. As per data, the highest number of child marriages were conducted in Hassan (26), followed by Mandya (25), Mysuru (24), Belagavi (19) and Ramanagara (13). In Bengaluru city, five child marriages were held in the same period.
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According to Nagamani CN, nodal coordinator of Child Line, child marriages are frequently reported from cities like Bengaluru. “Unlike in the past, we receive calls after the marriage is conducted, seeking legal intervention,” she said.
The officer gave the example of a 16-yearold girl, who called the helpline on Sunday after she was forcibly married off by her family. The helpline staff reached the girl, who was staying at a friend’s house, and took her to a rehabilitation centre. Nagamani said the girl is from Bengaluru and was married to a man from Mysuru two months ago. “Wishing to continue her studies, the girl escaped from Mysuru and arrived in the city on Saturday and stayed with her friend. We are communicating with her parents now,” she added.
Vasudev Sharma, executive director, Child Right Trust, said, “It is time the minor girls’ legal position is explored. Karnataka is the first state to amend the central act to make child marriage ‘null from the beginning itself’.” He said financial crisis unleashed by lockdowns might have contributed to a spike in child marriages and added that it’s the responsibility of parents and family to be aware of the ill-effects of a child marriage. “In many cases, we have come across minor girls possessing two Aadhaar cards and one of them is fake that shows their age as 18 plus,” he added.