Andhra Pradesh - Vijayawada   

New Government Order to help curb child marriages

P. Sujatha Varma

Registration of marriages in grama panchayats made mandatory

VIJAYAWADA: Absence of coherent guidelines is a major hindrance in curbing social evils like child marriages. The Department of Women and Child Welfare, which deals with issues like child marriage, school dropouts, child trafficking, child labour and low literacy rate among women in rural areas, is finding it difficult to address some of these sensitive issues.

A G.O. (No. 184) released by the State Government, making registration of marriages in every grama panchayat mandatory, will be of great help in preventing parents from getting their minor daughters married at a tender age in villages, according to M. J. Nirmala, project director of the department.

"Child marriages are rampant in upland areas of Tiruvuru, Mylavaram, Visannapeta, Nuzvid, Chatrai, Gampalagudem, Agiripalli, Reddygudem, G. Kondur and A. Kondur in Krishna district," she points out narrating incidents wherein the department staff had to face bitter experiences in their attempt to thwart villagers' bid to conduct child marriages en masse.

Anonymity

Officials, on condition of anonymity, complain that pressure from local politicians also obstructs them from discharging their duties effectively. The Women and Child Welfare Department is gearing up to strictly implement the G.O. in villages across the district. "We are awaiting guidelines on how to go about the task. Once we receive them, there will not be any compromise on this front," she clarifies.

To maintain a record

The law on compulsory registration of all marriages with local authorities aims at creating a proof for marriages. The G.O. authorises executive officers and village administrative officers of all notified grama panchayats to maintain a record of marriages.

The record should include the names of the bride and bridegroom, their age and time of the marriage, names of their parents or guardians and the person who solemnises the marriage. Date and place where the marriage is taking place, caste (SC, ST, BC or OC) and signature or thumb impression of the bride and bridegroom. The registration should also include other details of the marriage (if it is an inter-caste or a widower's or widow's remarriage or of a disabled person) and the signature of the recording officer.

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