New Delhi (Agency): The Chief of Maharashtra Women’s Commission, Rupali Chakankar, disclosed that child marriages have increased in the state since the Covid-19 lockdown. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, she highlighted that 37 child marriages were stopped in Latur district alone, with legal cases registered for two of these instances. However, Chakankar did not provide specific numbers or a timeline concerning the rise in child marriages in Maharashtra.
Chakankar called on local community councils, known as gram sabhas, to pass strict resolutions to prevent child marriages. She urged for action against everyone involved in the practice, including businesses that print wedding invitations for such events.
The Women’s Commission Chief also pointed to technology as a double-edged sword. She said that mobile phones and other forms of technology have led to a “communication gap” between parents and children. This gap might be a reason why young girls fall in love and elope. Chakankar emphasized that the police’s ‘Damini squad’ should increase their interactions with young girls to offer better protection.
Regarding the work of the commission, Chakankar mentioned that they have resolved around 18,000 complaints from 28 districts under their initiative called Mahila Aayog Aplya Dari. On the same day as the press conference, 93 new complaints were received in Latur, and three special panels will be set up to address these issues swiftly.
Various local authorities including MLC Vikram Kale, Collector Varsha Thakur-Ghuge, Superintendent of Police Somay Munde, and ZP Chief Executive Officer Anmol Sagar were present during the announcement.
This revelation about the surge in child marriages has raised concerns and calls for immediate and comprehensive action to protect children, particularly girls, from this harmful practice.