Pastors told to avoid child marriages

 Ongole: The Indian Evangelistic and Relief Fellowship ordered the pastors working in the churches under it, to strictly follow the Prevention of Child Marriages Act 2006 and perform marriages only after verifying the age of the woman (above 18 years) and man (above 21 years) through the certificates and legal documents.

Kodavatikanti Joseph, the founder and president of the Indian Evangelistic and Relief Fellowship issued the orders to the pastors following the letter from the HELP Girl Advocacy Alliance Programme. 

He said that as per the information by the HELP Girl Advocacy Alliance programme, most number of child marriages were being performed in Prakasam district. 

So he directed the pastors to verify the age of bride and bridegroom before fixing the marriage and educate the families on ill-effects of the child marriages. 

He said that according to PCM Act 2006, two year jail term and a fine of Rs 1,00,000 will be imposed on people involving in the child marriages. He also ordered them to facilitate the registration of all marriages with the government.

Attending the pastors meet held in Ongole by the Indian Evangelistic and Relief Fellowship, the HELP Girl Advocacy Alliance Programme Officer BV Sagar explained the ill-effects of the child marriages and asked cooperation of the pastors in eradicating child marriages in the Prakasam district. 

He thanked the IERF for issuing the guidelines to the pastors, which was a first of its kind in the state.  

District Legal Services Authority secretary T Raja Venkatadri appreciated the circular by the IERF and said that it will help a lot in controlling the child marriages in the district.