The Hindu : Other States / Chattisgarh News : Govt. hawk eye on marriage of minors

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Monday, Apr 25, 2005

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Govt. hawk eye on marriage of minors

A controversy was sparked off after tribal Welfare Minister Ram Vichar Netam attended a mass marriage ceremony, where children allegedly entered into wedlock, at Srikote in Sarguja district.

RAIPUR: Stung by the controversy over minors tying nuptial knot at a mass marriage ceremony, Chhattsigarh government has now become cautious over its scheme to sponsor community marriages for girls of families living Below the Poverty Line.

``We are cautious now. The district administration concerned will strictly ensure that only those who have attained legal age for marriage will be entertained for benefits under the scheme'', a spokeswoman of the social welfare department said.

Fixing a target to sponsor at least 5,000 marriages in a year by organising community marriages in all the 16 districts of the state, the State government will spend Rs 5000 on each marriage--Rs 4000 as wedding gifts in the form of household items and Rs 1000 as grants.

Social welfare department deputy director Ms Archana Rana told UNI that the rules for the scheme was being framed. She said only those couples, who produce age proof, would be eligible to get married under the scheme.

Pointing out that a committee at the respective districts would scrutinise the applications for benefit under the scheme, she said the age of the couples would have to be proved to the satisfaction of the committee.

Asked about complaints regarding children tying the knot at mass marriage ceremonies, she said at present there was no law to ensure compulsory registration of marriages, including those held at community marriage functions organised by various social and other organisations.

Ms Rana said a proposal for making marriage registration compulsory was being examined by the law department as a part of the efforts to discourage child marriage, which is prevalent among few communities in the State.

Within few days after the state government approved a scheme to promote community marriages for girls of BPL families, a controversy was sparked off after tribal Welfare Minister Ram Vichar Netam attended a mass marriage ceremony, where children allegedly entered into wedlock, at Srikote in Sarguja district.

The ceremony, where 137 couples entered into the wedlock, was organised by Satya Sanatan Dharma Samaj at Srikot village, about 150 Kms from Ambikapur, headquarters of Sarguja district. State Sanskrit Board chairman Chintamani Majaraj, who enjoys the status of a minister of state, had organised the function.

After it came to public notice that few couples, who got married at the ceremony, looked like children around ten years of age, the organisers claimed that they were unware that some of the couples were below the marriageable age. Sarguja district marriage registration officer Taman Singh Sonwane told UNI at Ambikapur that the organisers did not apply for registration of marriages performed at the community marriage organised at Srikote.

``We come into picture only if someone applies for registration of marriage'', he added.

Meanwhile Tribal Welfare Minister Ram Vichar Netam told UNI that 137 couples had tied nuptial knot at the community marriage ceremony at Srikote in the presence of about 10,000 people.

``I was not aware that any of the couples were below marriageable age. After the matter came to light, the organisers told me that they had verified the age of couples. After all, is it possible for the chief guest to personally verify whether any minors were getting married at the mass marriage ceremony?'', he asked.

``In any case, I will remain more cautious while attending such functions'', he added. UNI

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Govt. hawk eye on marriage of minors