THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:This should come as a shock to a state which boasts of high literacy rates and impressive development indices. As many as 50 child marriages have taken place in the state between 2016 and May 2018, according to the data presented by Health Minister K K Shailaja in the Assembly on Tuesday. The government also managed to prevent 457 child marriages during this period, she said after P Aisha Potti MLA raised the issue in the House.
Thirty-one marriages took place in Malappuram alone. In that district, 291 such illegal marriages were also prevented from taking place. Twelve marriages were reported from Wayanad where 17 were stopped. In Kannur, four marriages were reported and 16 stopped. Palakkad reported two child marriages during this period. As many as 95 were prevented from taking place in the district. Kasargod also reported one marriage. Here, 32 were prevented, the minister said.
While child marriages were reported across communities, in the tribal villages, it was seen as a part of custom. In the past sittings also MLAs had raised the problem of young tribal grooms being hauled off to prison on POCSO charges.
As part of the tackling the problem in the districts where child marriages have been reported, her department is also screening short films to raise awareness regarding the laws governing marriage. Awareness campaigns are being carried out with the help of various agencies, including the police, Kudumbasree, Childline and Asha workers, she said.