Udupi: Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Preeti Gehlot said child marriage is a breach of human rights.

She was speaking during an awareness programme on Prohibition Of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2016, organised by the district administration in association with Zilla Panchayat (ZP), district Women and Child Development Department and District Legal Service Authority on Tuesday.

‘Violation of rights’

The Preeti said child marriages are also a violation of child rights. It is snatching away the childhood’s innocence away from children. Asserting that the child marriages are largely due to the religious and traditional beliefs, she said it should be stopped to ensure a healthy society.

Social norms and poverty force people to opt for child marriages. 

She said the practice should be eradicated at the base. NGOs and all organisations in the society should take up the initiative to create awareness on ending 
social evil.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Jaishankar said in a literate district, the instances of child marriages were rare and were reported by and large from the community migrated to the district. 

The migrants descend in large numbers seeking gainful employment in the district. 

‘Create awareness’

Civil Judge and district legal service authority member secretary Kaveri stressed on the need to create awareness in schools on the ill effects of child marriage.  The helpline 1098 is available for those keen on sharing information about child marriages with officials, she said.

Those involved in child marriages like priests, owners of marriage halls and printers of weddings cards should be aware of the punishment for such crime.

Experts also delivered talks on the ill-effects of child marriages on the girls.