Awareness Meet on Child Marriages held

Vijayawada: Krishna district Child Welfare Committee chairman BVS Kumar has said girls are forced into wedlock before attaining the marriage age and the school-going children are compelled to become child labour.

He participated as the chief guest at an awareness programme on child marriages and child begging organised at Gunadala Mary Matha Church here on Sunday.

The programme was organised by Forum for Child Rights, Childline-1098 in association with government and NGOs to mark the week-long programme on “World Day Against Child Labour’.

Speaking on the occasion, Kumar said that all the children should be provided education and they should be given chance to excel in all fields. 

He appealed to all to alert Childline 1098 about the problems faced by children who are supposed to go to school. 

Machavaram Sub-Inspector Prasad briefed about the various programmes Bala Mithra was organising. He said that everyone should feel the responsibility for the development of children to build a strong nation.

Fr Rajaraju of Gunadala Mary Shrine said performing marriage without attaining the marriage age is an offence and child marriage is a crime. 

He said that such things should be brought to the notice of the department and they should be given counselling, he added.