CHENNAI: Claiming that child marriages are taking place in some parts of the state, health secretary P Senthil Kumar said the government is taking all steps to spread awareness on the health issues related to child marriages and teenage pregnancies.
Speaking at an organised by the health department as part of the World Population Day, Senthilkumar said, only explaining scientifically on the issues of early pregnancies and marriages could bring a change in the attitude of the people.
People should also be educated on spacing, a gap between two children, for a healthy life. “There should be a minimum of 3 years of age difference between two children,” he said.
The health secretary further said the total fertility rate is 1.4, which is below replacement level fertility (the average number of children a woman needs to have to maintain a stable population). Now the focus of the government is on how to improve the quality of life of people.
Health minister MA Subramanian, who was present on the occasion, said the government has been organising various awareness programmes to reduce the number of people getting married at an early age.
In various districts like Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri, the number of people getting married at an early age has come down to a great extent.