Hyderabad: Forced into marriage, minor tries to end life

Hyderabad: A 16-year-old girl allegedly attempted suicide on Saturday upon learning that her family was discontinuing her education and getting her married. Her wedding procession was on its way when the girl was rescued and sent to a shelter. The girl was about to be married to a 30-year-old man. The marriage ceremony was to be performed at Beerappa Gadda in the Mallapur area of Hyderabad on Sunday. It was brought to the notice of the Rachakonda Police by members of the Balala Hakkula Sangham, an NGO working in the area of child rights.

She was rescued by the Rachakonda Police and sent to a shelter for rehabilitation after she was deemed to be unsafe with her parents Hari Babu and Rajeswari. The girl reportedly attempted suicide on Saturday because she did not want to get married and wanted to continue her education instead. “She consumed All-Out liquid in a bid to commit suicide to avoid getting married,” said Achyuta Rao, the chief functionary of the NGO.

Balala Hakkula Sangham, which has rescued many children from child marriage, has asked the Department of Women and Child Welfare to create awareness against the practice and to react more promptly upon receiving information.  The NGO has also demanded the rehabilitation of the victim in this case, and the registration of a case against the groom under provisions of Child Marriage Prohibition Act.

Child marriage, a social death

Child marriage results in the social death of the child. Psychologists and psychiatrists say that a minor girl’s physical, mental, and social health are ruined by early marriage. They said that parents should be counselled regarding the adverse effects of child marriage in a manner that they can comprehend.
Dr Diana Monteiro, a psychologist, said, “A minor girl has not reached the stage in her life when she can make the right decision on her own. When her parents, whom she trusts, take away her opportunity at education and force her to get married, she is left with no choice but accept her fate.”

Parents in rural and urban areas agree to get their minor children married for different reasons. “In the rural areas, they believe that a girl needs to be married young. They are not actually aware of the legal age. Whereas in urban areas, child marriage is basically a form of punishment for the girl. If a girl is seen talking to or being in close proximity to a boy, she is grounded, her education is stopped, and a match is fixed for her. Middle-class and upper-middle-class families know the rules, but they still go ahead with their decision,” said Dr Purnima Nagaraja, a psychologist.

Another important aspect that contributes to the problem is the difference in age between the bride and the groom. “The groom is almost always much older than the bride, because of which he expects a certain level of maturity and understanding from his spouse, which she obviously fails to live up to. This can lead to depression and suicidal tendencies,” said Dr Nagaraja. The problems caused by child marriage cannot be ignored. Suicidal tendencies, teenage pregnancy and health-related issues should be taken very seriously as a minor is not prepared to handle such a high responsibility.