Belagavi and Vijayapur districts stand in the second and third positions on the list, with 2,754 and 2,004 underage pregnant women recorded from January to November 2023.
The Karnataka State Children Rights Protection Commission states that Karnataka has reported 28,657 cases of underage pregnancies (below 18 years old), with Bengaluru, Belagavi, and Vijaypur districts at the top of the list.
Commission member Shashidhar Kosambe stated, “Bengaluru city has the highest number of underage pregnant women in the state, with 2,815 cases,” citing information from the National Health Mission’s reproductive and child health portal. The districts of Belagavi and Vijayapur, with 2,754 and 2,004 underage pregnant women registered between January and November 2023, are ranked second and third, respectively, on the list.
Udupi and Mangaluru in the coastal region, known for their educated population, reported the lowest numbers, with 56 and 135 underage pregnancies, respectively.
Kosambe held the health and family welfare department responsible for underage pregnancies, saying that the department has not filed cases with the police under section 19 of the Pocso Act 2021. “Despite being aware of the growing rate of underage pregnancies, the department has not taken any action to prevent child marriages,” Kosambe said.
Expressing concern over the adverse effects on the health of young pregnant women, Kosambe told HT that the state has more than 56,000 officials dedicated to preventing child marriages. “Despite having such a large number of officials from the village to the state capital of Bengaluru, underage pregnancies continue, providing solid proof of the persistence of banned child marriages,” Kosambe added. He emphasised that despite awareness efforts, child marriages remain uncontrolled in the state.
Dr KD Gundabavadi, the health and family welfare department officer in Vijayapur district, acknowledged the difficulty in preventing child marriages fully but added tat highest care is being given to the health of young pregnant women. He suggested educating parents about the adverse effects on the health of girls married at a young age and strictly implementing measures to prevent child marriages.
Belagavi DHO Dr. Mahesh Koni said his department is dedicated to providing the best health services, including for young pregnant women, and has a cell to prevent child marriages. According to Dr. Koni, approximately 90% of underage pregnant women are not mentally or physically mature, and they struggle with health issues like low hemoglobin anemia, which prevents them from getting the right nourishment. He made reference to statistical data to highlight the fact that young mothers gave birth to the majority of malnourished children in the state.
The geographically largest district, Belagavi, reported difficulties because of political pressure despite efforts to prevent child marriages. The Belagavi child marriage prevention team received an anonymous tip that stated, “Belagavi district records more than a thousand weddings of underage girls.” We can hardly prevent very few weddings due to political pressure,” they told HT.
Data from the RCH portal revealed that the northern part of the state has up to 70% more underage pregnant women than the southern range. Districts like Bagalkot, Bellari, Bidar, Kalaburagi, Raichur, and Yadagiri have reported significant numbers. Karnataka State Children Rights Protection Commission member Kosambe attributed poverty as one of the prime reasons for child marriages, leading to pregnancies at a young age. “In the northern region, parents conduct weddings for their minor-aged daughters early to escape from their responsibilities, resulting in pregnancies at a young age,” Kosambe explained.
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