Call to oppose child marriages

Kanigiri: Chandrasekharapuram tahsildar V Pulla Rao called upon the people to strive to end child marriages, trafficking and work for the protection of child rights.
He was the chief guest, along with sarpanch Bandaru Salamma at the Grama Sabha, organised by the District Legal Services Authority in association with HELP and Good Help, NGOs, at the panchayat office.

The Gram Sabha was specially organised to create awareness among villagers on child marriages, trafficking and protection of rights of children. Salamma said that the girls were facing a lot of health issues after getting married at a younger age and that was affecting their growth and development.

Programme officer of HELP and paralegal volunteer BV Sagar emphasised the need of creating awareness on child marriages and child trafficking from the village-level. He said that according to the Child Marriages Prevention Act, the people involved in the marriage of the girl below 18 years and boy below 21 years of age would be awarded two years of imprisonment and Rs 1 lakh fine.

The paralegal volunteer of Good Help voluntary organisation M Ramesh said that if all other panchayats draw inspiration from Chandrasekharapuram panchayat, child marriages and trafficking would be eradicated.

The village secretary, GV Aravinda, ward members, police personnel from the village also participated in the special Grama Sabha and created awareness among the public.