KOzHIKODE: The recent revelation by the District Child Protection Unit that it recorded 15 cases of child marriages in 2017 of which the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO) could serve an injunction only in four cases has shocked many. According to the District Child Protection Officer, the number was higher, but a majority of child marriages has gone unreported in the District, which is part of the most literate State in the country.
“The cases that have been reported so far are due to the secret information passed on by the underage brides, who are forced to get married at a very young age”, said District Child Protection Officer Sheeba Mumtaz. “The timely awareness programmes conducted by the Child marriage prohibition officer, managed to influence some school students to stop the torture they faced at this stage of life, which was meant for getting an education and have fun,” she added.
The CMPO said that a majority of cases went unreported in the District and they had no way of knowing about these marriages unless somebody reported it. “This is the reason why we conduct awareness programmes in school, especially for the teachers, who have the opportunity to know if any of their students are getting married before 18”, said the CMPO here.
It is still a huge challenge to detect and stop child marriage, inspite of several CMPOs being appointed as part of the enactment of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006. The CMPO in collaboration with DCPU is all set to conduct a massive awareness programme for students, teachers and religious leaders and also political leaders. Religious leaders and political leaders are mostly targeted for awareness programmes as these are the people who approve such marriages.
