19 minor marriage bids foiled in just 4 months in Chennai

As per the latest data collated by Child Line, child marriages continue to be a major social problem in the city. From April to July this year, Child Line had effectively stopped as many as 19 attempts to marry off minor girls. From April 2015 to March 2016, Child Line had intercepted and stopped 49 child marriages. What is more shocking is that the child marriage percentage in the state stood at 15.7 percent in 2015-16 as per the District Level Household Facility Survey. 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development says the percentage of child marriage in urban areas are more, when compared to rural areas. The actual number of married minor girls in Chennai could be much higher, say sources in Child Line, adding they are in a position to intervene only when they get information regarding such marriages. UNICEF personnel who work among victims of child marriages and their families say that in Chennai, poverty was never highlighted as an issue in child marriages. 

“The most common reason that the parents say are their concern for the safety and security of their girl child that prompted them to marry off their minor girls,” Job Zacharia, chief of UNICEF, Tamil Nadu and Kerala told DTNext.

 Child marriages are also one of the major contributing factors in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and malnutrition. “It is a convergent issue that has a direct impact on education, social security and the health of women. We have also found out that domestic violence is high against minor brides. Child marriages also causes higher infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate. Children born to such girls have lower birth weight and suffer from malnutrition,” Job Zacharia said. 

Education and awareness are key to ending this social evil, say experts. However, child marriage is a major factor in higher percentage of girl school drop-outs. “The best way to end child marriages is to ensure education for all girls up to 18 years. UNICEF will be launching a mobile vehicle campaign across Tamil Nadu to make people aware about the adverse impacts of child marriage in two months’ time,” Zacharia added.