DCW asks DMs to keep an eye on child marriages
11 Jan 2018 6:04 PM GMT
New Delhi: Expressing its concern over the rampant number of child marriages taking place in the national Capital, the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued notices to all the District Magistrates (DMs) to take a count of and regularly report such incidents.
"The Delhi Commission for Women has received several complaints of child marriage and it had undertaken rescue operations all over Delhi. In certain cases, it is observed that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act fails to address the issue and does not play satisfactory role in penalising accused persons," said the Commission in a statement.
"We have rescued several minors from child marriages in Delhi. It is sad that even in today's times, child marriages continue to take place. The prohibition against Child Marriage Act has failed to create deterrence.
"We have issued notices to all DMs seeking information on this issue," DCW chief Swati Jai Hind said.
The DCW also asked the DMs to provide to it, by January 25, reports of any child marriage incidents within the jurisdiction of each sub division.
It further asked information on the number of complaints regarding received child marriages from 2013 till date, action taken on each complaint along with the present status, whether child marriage prohibition officer within the jurisdiction has organised any awareness camps to sensitise the community on the issue and the problems being encountered by DM's office as well each sub-division office in the jurisdiction in the proper implementation of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
Last year, several cases of child marriage were reported to the DCW helpline number 181, and were averted thanks to timely action.
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