CHENNAI: The authorities stopped 11,553 child marriages in the last five years in Tamil Nadu, but in a mere 583 cases, or less than 5%, FIRs were filed under the Prohibition of Child Marriages Act, 2006, according to RTI data from the directorate of social welfare.
Only registering more cases will deter parents from conducting child marriages, say activists. “Not a single case has been registered in Krishnagiri district, one of the high prevalence districts for such cases. There is no follow-up of girls rescued from child marriages,” said S Prabakar, a social activist and a RTI petitioner.
Advocate Sudha Ramalingam said the government and NGOs should tell people that child marriage is evil. “We need to tell parents that their girls can be safe even without marriage. Without this awareness, the act alone will not be useful. Law is just one instrument for social change,” she said.
A senior police officer dealing with crimes against women and children said most parents conducting child marriages are daily wagers, rendered economically weak by the pandemic. “We prevent child marriages only when we receive complaints. The girl’s parents never come forward to register complaints. They apologise and give a written statement saying they won’t perform the marriage again. We register cases where the marriage is already performed.”
An adult man (over age 21) marrying an underage bride is, along with the girl’s parents/ guardians and anyone conducting wedding, is in violation of the law and, if convicted, can be sentenced to up to two years in prison.
“The child marriage prevention acts have been in existence for more than 100 years. In 1891, the Age of Consent Act was passed. Despite these acts, child marriages continue. It is a social issue and the government should address the livelihood concerns. Most parents marry off their daughters at a young age due to their living conditions,” said R Vidyasagar, former child protection specialist with Unicef.
