In the past 10 months, Mysuru has seen a troubling rise in child marriages and subsequent pregnancies among minors. According to Child Helpline authorities, 37 children married before reaching the legal age have become pregnant. Of these, 15 cases were reported in Mysuru city, and 14 in Mysuru taluk.
The Child Helpline, now managed by the Department of Women and Child Development, has registered a total of 230 child marriage cases in the last 10 months, with nearly half occurring in Mysuru city and Mysuru taluk. FIRs have been filed against over a dozen families and the bridegrooms under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the POCSO Act, 2012, following referrals to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
Raghu AS, the coordinator for Child Helpline, noted that many cases were discovered when minor girls sought medical help or were reported by neighbors. Despite the prohibition of child marriage, it continues clandestinely, often organized at odd hours.
E Dhananjaya, a CWC member, criticized the continued practice of child marriages despite legal restrictions and penalties. The CWC has intensified its efforts to combat these practices, with some offenders still in judicial custody. Public awareness campaigns, including wall paintings, are being conducted to educate the community about child protection laws and the Child Helpline.
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