DCW, Delhi Police thwart bid to marry off 16-yr-old

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) successfully stopped the marriage of a 16-year-old girl, after it received a complaint on their women helpline number 181 informing about the incident.

The girl is a student of Class XI and a resident of Sangam Vihar in South Delhi.

The DCW members received an anonymous call from a PCO booth in Sangam Vihar.

After receiving the tip-off, the DCW counsellor along with the local police reached the address of the girl student, where they found that the family had completed all preparations for the marriage ceremony.

After intervention from the counsellor and police personnel, the parents of the minor explained that owing to their daughter's health condition they were only getting her engaged and not married.

However, persistent inquiry by the DCW team and the police revealed that the family was all set to marry of their daughter the next day. The city police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

Earlier in February, DCW rescued a 13-year-old girl from getting married off to a 40-year-old man in Najafgarh in South West Delhi.

"Child marriage is not only a grave offence but also a blot in our society. The DCW has been able to curb this menace only because a large number of people want to prevent exploitation of women in the city. I appeal to the citizens to use 181 women helpline number to report any cases of exploitation against women in the city," DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal said.

3.16 lakh calls were received by DCW in 2016 at their helpline number 181.

Earlier, the helpline was merely used as a referral service used to transfer calls to Delhi Police, ambulance and other relevant departments.

However, ever since the transfer of 181 helpline number to DCW in February last year, the team is successfully handling cases of domestic violence, stalking and dowry-related violence.

A fleet of 22 vehicles has been added so that the counsellors can reach women in distress with ease.