Child marriage averted, minor girl rescued in Telangana’s Asifabad

The girl was shifted to the Sakhi one stop centre for counselling

Kumram Bheem Asifabad: Officials of the Child Protection department in association with police and the women development and child welfare department prevented the marriage of a minor girl by counselling her parents at Chintaguda village in Kagaznagar mandal on Sunday.

District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Burla Mahesh, in a statement, said they could avert the wedding of a minor girl scheduled to be performed with a boy from Charigaon village in Kagaznagar mandal by providing counselling to parents of the bride and groom, following a tip-off. The girl was shifted to the Sakhi one stop centre for counselling.

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Mahesh stated that they explained legal and health consequences of child marriage to the parents who agreed to cancel the marriage. He advised the public to report child marriages by contacting toll free 1098 or 112. He cautioned that a groom, elders and priest could attract an imprisonment up to 2 years if found guilty.

District Child Line coordinator Praveen Kumar, social worker Jamuna, constables Varalaxmi and others took part in the operation.