Bengaluru: Even though the State and Central Governments have implemented strict legal provisions including special courts to curb the menace of child marriages, there is no end to this social evil.
According to the latest data, the State has recorded 571 child marriages in the last three years.
Replying to a query raised by MLC K. Govindaraj, Minister for Women and Child Welfare Halappa Achar informed that the highest number of child marriages were reported in the year 2020-21 with 296 cases.
It can be recalled that in this period, the State underwent lockdown to curb the spread of the Covid – 19 and activists warned of rampant child marriages.
In these three years, the highest number of cases was reported from Mandya with 59 cases. Mandya is considered a socially forward-looking district as it is close to the State capital Bengaluru.
There were 51 cases reported in Ramanagara, and 42 cases in Hassan.
Interestingly in the Udupi District, no cases were reported in these three years. Udupi is the educational forward district which may be one of the reasons for zero complaints.
