NCPCR Chairperson writes to Chief Secretaries & DGPs of all States/ UTs to ensure that no child marriage takes place during Akshya Tritiya/ AakhaTeej

NCPCR Chairperson, Smt. Stuti Kacker has written a letter to the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of all States/UTs and Chairpersons of all State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (SCPCRs) asking them to send within a week a detailed Action Taken Report on efforts made by them in preventing child marriages in their respective States/ Union Territories. This has been done in view of the impending Akshya Tritiya/ Aakha Teej, which are considered as auspicious days when there is apprehension of more of such marriages taking place.

Meanwhile, following the intervention of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)of Women & Child Development Ministry, Rajasthan Police arrested three persons including the Pandit (priest) who were involved in the mass marriage of minor children of Jaisinghpura Gram Panchayat of Chittorgarh District.

After the media reports of the alleged child marriages in Chittorgarh, the Commission (NCPCR) quickly took up the issue with District Magistrate of Chittorgarh, Shri Ved Prakash and asked him to take appropriate action under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 since it was a clear violation of Child Rights.

Reacting to the Chittorgarh incident, the Woman and Child Development Minister, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said that child marriage is an intolerable practice which affects the growth and mental development of a child. She said such brides are not physically and mentally fit to carry the burden of child birth and consequential responsibilities. As per NCRB data, between 2012 and 2014, more than 670 child marriage cases were registered by the police in the country.