STRAIGHT TALK: Shanta Sinha, MV Foundation secretary, addressing a seminar against child marriages at Suryapet on Monday. - PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

SURYAPET (NALGONDA DT.): Secretary of Mamidipudi Venkata Rangaiah Foundation (MVF) and Magsaysay award winner Shanta Sinha has requested the State Government to construct special hostels in every mandal to accommodate girls rescued from child marriage.

Addressing a seminar against child marriage at the Zilla Parishad High School for Boys on Monday, she said: "Since the movement against child marriage launched by the Child Rights Protection Forum (CRPF) is yielding good results, the Government should positively respond to accommodate the rescued girls."

She maintained that such girls should be given shelter irrespective of caste and creed. "Though there are some hostels meant for girls, special hostels must be there to accommodate at least 200 girls in each mandal," she said. Ms. Sinha congratulated Superintendent of Police M.M. Bhagwat and the Surypet police for working in unison with the CRPF to eradicate child marriage. She said 91 child marriages had been prevented, thanks to CRPF initiative with the help of the police.

She said all Government departments and NGOs should join hands to eradicate the social evil. She said Suryapet division should set the stage to totally eradicate the problem in the State.

Mr. Bhagwat said his department was ever ready to help the movement. "I have received more than 100 calls since I made a public announcement that anyone interested in preventing child marriage in their area can contact me on my mobile."

Recalling a court judgment in which the custody of a 13-year-old rescued girl was reportedly given to the bridegroom, the SP said that there were many obstacles in dealing with the issue.

CRPF activists -- Alivela, Venkanna, Saidamma and Mallesh Yadav --narrated their tale of woe in preventing child marriage in their localities. "Notwithstanding a looming threat for me from a section of people in my village, I am committed to stopping such inhuman marriages," Ms. Alivela of Settigudem in Atmakur (S) mandal said.

R. Venkat Reddy, Ch. Nagaiah and E. Venkatesh of the CRPF also spoke.

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