Four freed ‘Child Brides’ felicitated

AP Child Rights Association (Balala Hakkula Sangham) states child marriages harm societ

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Child Rights Association (Balala Hakkula Sangham) leaders stated here on Wednesday that child marriages would harm society. At a media conference the association leaders presented four of the 93 girls—V Sandhya, K Sandhya, Anusha, Jyoti---whose marriages it had prevented. 

The organisation felicitated the four girls. General Secretary of Kubera Towers, Narayanguba, Satyanarayana Reddy presented mementoes to all girls. Anuradha Rao, President of the association, stated that it would strive to the utmost to prevent child marriages with the assistance of the police. Information on child marriages should be conveyed on Ph No: 93910-24242. Such information would be kept secret.

The leaders pointed out that the liberated girls were doing well in studies. ‘Anusha has emerged as a national-level sportsperson’. 

They said the support of the Rachakonda/Cyberabad police and the media in averting child marriages was providing encouragement to the association. They expressed anguish that the liberated girls were not receiving any assistance from the administration, while appealing to the Ranga Reddy district collector to extend help to them.

The association leaders asserted that a marriage should not be forced, but be performed by mutual understanding. Even in the case of love marriages the age should be at least 21 years. The couple should be able to stand on own with financial independence. The leaders clarified that the association was not against love, but marriages of girls should be performed only after they complete 21 years and enjoy financial freedom.

The leaders stated that with the SSC exam set to conclude in a few days and the marriage season beginning there was a need for officialdom to be alert as the ensuing season was bound to be a curse for young girls. Officials should also take care of the weak, disabled children and prevent women/infant deaths, in the interest of society.

Speaking to the media, prominent psychologist Dr Radhika Acharya pointed out that girls getting married early would not be able to have active conjugal relations, affecting their family life, and suffer health problems on account of child birth and bringing them up. They won’t have adequate awareness about personal health. This would lead to either separation or extra-marital relations and children becoming orphans and family life disintegrating.