AP ranks second in child marriages

Ongole: Andhra Pradesh stands second in the list of states where the highest child marriages are being performed and the number of children being trafficked.

According to the data released by the UNICEF, India is the top country with 2.66 crore women above 18 years of age reported that they are victims of child marriages. These women constitute to nearly 34 per cent of the child brides across the world.

In India, Andhra Pradesh is in the second position after West Bengal with 18 per cent of the child marriages. With regard to child trafficking, India is in the 5th position in the list of 84 countries that provided data, and Andhra Pradesh is in the second position. As per the National Crime Records Bureau data, Prakasam district is in third position after East and West Godavari districts in child trafficking.

NVS Rammohan, director of the HELP NGO, said that child marriages and child trafficking is interrelated and nearly 30 per cent of the child brides are being trafficked every year. He said that the data with them reveal that 45 per cent of the child brides suffered high-risk pregnancies and most of them are victims of abortions, infant or maternal mortalities during deliveries.

In Prakasam district alone, since bifurcation of the state, 1,060 child marriages were reported while the World Health Organisation reported that 8,698 critical deliveries occurred in the last two years. Rammohan also finds poverty and lack of education are the main reasons behind the child marriages. 

As per the Government of Andhra Pradesh, only 3 of the 10 girls joining schools are completing 8th class and 45 per cent of the girls are dropping out of schools before they complete 6th class. He said that Kurnool district tops with 49.8 per cent while Prakasam district is in second position with 39.21 per cent.

Cherukuri Bharati, Child Welfare Committee chairperson for Prakasam district, said that due to the non-availability of the education, girls are being forced to work as domestic helps and for less salaries and are becoming victims of child marriages and trafficking. She said that they are conducting meetings with religious leaders and are creating awareness about the adversities of the child marriages and asking them to perform marriages only after they confirm the age of the couple by documentary proofs.

She demanded the authorities to regular reviews on trafficking and protect victims until they attain 18 years of age. She asked them to book cases against the pimps, brothels and customers for involving the minors in flesh trade under POCSO act and see they are severely punished.