WCD officials to curb child marriages

The Women and Child Development (WCD) commissioner has appointed 140 child development protection officers (CDPOs) in the state, as per the directions of the Women and Child development ministry, to make the state completely free of child marriages,. This comes in the wake of the general resolution issued by the WCD ministry, considering the rampant child marriages taking place in cities like Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar.
 Child marriage is regarded as a human rights violation. Despite prohibitory laws, the practice remains widespread, not only in rural parts of the state, but also in cities. Childline, an NGO that works for the rights and welfare of needy children, recorded the maximum number of child marriages, 42 in Ahmednagar, 17 in Pune, 26 in Beed, and 16 in Nashik, in 2015–16.

“140 CDPOs for the state were appointed on Monday, of which ten CDPOs will be for Pune region. These CDPOs will undergo special training to deal with the situations,” said Ravindra Patil, Maharashtra Women and Child Deputy Commissioner.

In cities like Pune, Nashik etc, these CDPOs will take action against and prevent child marriages. “To rein in the widespread illegal practice in rural parts of the state there are gram sevaks working at village levels and CDPOs in cities. CDPOs in the city are legally authorised to take action against child marriages,” said Patil.

Anuradha Sahasrabuddhe, of Childline, Pune said, “Child marriages in cities are seen in class of a specific caste having Jaat Panchayats, and it’s common among nomadic tribes in rural areas. We receive tip offs about child marriage from the police. Then we stop the child marriages, and explain to them the ill effects of the practice. Sometimes we face opposition from the Jaat Panchayats. Cases are also filed against people if they don’t agree to stop child marriage. Nowadays, more and more people are becoming aware of the issue.”

“Most of the child marriages in cities are done by uneducated people or those living in slums. If we come across cases of child marriage, we explain to them about the ill effects, and suggest that the couple stay separate, till the girl is physically fit to give birth to a child. People who do not wish to co-operate with us, evade us and migrate to other places after marriage.”

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 The Women and Child Development (WCD) commissioner has appointed 140 child development protection officers (CDPOs) in the state, as per the directions of the Women and Child development ministry, to make the state completely free of child marriages,. This comes in the wake of the general resolution issued by the WCD ministry, considering the rampant child marriages taking place in cities like Pune, Nashik and Ahmednagar.
 Child marriage is regarded as a human rights violation. Despite prohibitory laws, the practice remains widespread, not only in rural parts of the state, but also in cities. Childline, an NGO that works for the rights and welfare of needy children, recorded the maximum number of child marriages, 42 in Ahmednagar, 17 in Pune, 26 in Beed, and 16 in Nashik, in 2015–16.
 “140 CDPOs for the state were appointed on Monday, of which ten CDPOs will be for Pune region. These CDPOs will undergo special training to deal with the situations,” said Ravindra Patil, Maharashtra Women and Child Deputy Commissioner.
 In cities like Pune, Nashik etc, these CDPOs will take action against and prevent child marriages.
 “To rein in the widespread illegal practice in rural parts of the state there are gram sevaks working at village levels and CDPOs in cities. CDPOs in the city are legally authorised to take action against child marriages,” said Patil.
 Anuradha Sahasrabuddhe, of Childline, Pune said, “Child marriages in cities are seen in class of a specific caste having Jaat Panchayats, and it’s common among nomadic tribes in rural areas. We receive tip offs about child marriage from the police. Then we stop the child marriages, and explain to them the ill effects of the practice. Sometimes we face opposition from the Jaat Panchayats. Cases are also filed against people if they don’t agree to stop child marriage. Nowadays, more and more people are becoming aware of the issue.”
 “Most of the child marriages in cities are done by uneducated people or those living in slums. If we come across cases of child marriage, we explain to them about the ill effects, and suggest that the couple stay separate, till the girl is physically fit to give birth to a child. People who do not wish to co-operate with us, evade us and migrate to other places after marriage.”
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Originally published on The Golden Sparrow