Spurt in child marriages, rapes in Visakhapatnam

14 marriages prevented, 12 minor girls raped this year

Visakhapatnam: Whether it is marriage or rape, minor girls in the region are becoming easy target for all forms of violence being perpetuated by the perverts in case of rape and chauvinists encouraging the early marriages. During the last four months as many as 12 minor girls were raped in and around the city and 14 child marriages were prevented during the same period.

Child Development Project Officer A Satyanarayana told this correspondent that his department could prevent eight child marriages in 2012, 18 in 2013 and 26 in 2014. “We could stop as many 14 marriages till April this year alone and with increased awareness among the people, we will be having a handful of work during this marriage season,’’ Satyanarayana said.

Citing many reasons behind the increase in the child marriages, Satyanarayana said his department was facing tough time in preventing marriage hours before the solemnization.

He said in most of the cases the helpline gets calls in the last minute and by then the parents of bride might have incurred lakhs of rupees either by borrowing from relatives or financiers making it difficult to counseling the parents. Yet by threat and counseling, the marriages are being postponed, he added.

However in the villages the chances of getting information was less and often the prohibitory officers and police face violence since the entire community of a village gets involved in the marriage. Convener of Child Rights Protection Forum G Sitaram, the man who informed the women and child welfare department on all the child marriages prevented so far, told this correspondent that over hundred child marriages were planned for this marriage season and sought help from government to strengthen his network.

The child marriages apart, the district also witnessed an increase in the rape of minor girls. According to police records, 12 minor girls were raped in Vizag and other parts in the district this year till April while the number was 22 last year. Sitaram said some times the victims are too young to realize what had happened to them and the sexual assault comes to light only when the elders of the family notice the bruises on the private parts.

A senior police officer said in most of the cases, the accused were known to the girls who trusted them. District president of POW M Lakshmi said easy access to pornography and addiction to alcohol was making men to resort to such heinous crimes against young children. She suggested that setting up of special courts and speedy trials could serve as a deterrent to the criminals.

Lovers’ call

One would be mistaken to believe some good Samaritans inform the child protection officials, police or revenue department on the impending child marriage. It is indeed the lovers of the child brides who desperately keep calling officials till the marriage is finally cancelled.

“I was wondering why somebody having a teenage voice was so persistent in cancelling a child marriage. After a brief inquiry and talking to the girl, I was shocked to find her lover on the other end of the phone,’’ said Child Development Project Officer A Satyaanrayana.

He said the bride a few months short of 18 years and studying Intermediate final year in a college was reluctant to marry her cousin who was 15 years older to her. As she was in love with a newly recruited constable aged 23, she thought of informing the officials through him. The constable who was in deep love with the girl jumped at the idea and called the ICDS through the helpline number. He went on calling every hour till the marriage was cancelled, the CDPO said.

By:KMP Patnaik