Karnataka Reports 1,799 Child Marriages in Three Years: Minister

Speedy Summary

• Child Marriages in karnataka (Last 3 Years):

– 2022-23: 405 cases
– 2023-24: 709 cases
– 2024-25: 685 cases
total: 1,799 cases in three years.

• Impact on underage Pregnancies:

– Child marriages are a major contributor to increasing underage pregnancies in the state.

• Social Factors:

– Social customs and practices within certain communities and tribal societies are meaningful reasons for persistence.

• Government Measures:

– Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) functional across districts.
– Helpline number “1098” is operational for child safety.
– Plans to establish watch committees from gram panchayat to district levels.
– Expansion of “Akka Pade,” a model comprising women police officers and NCC cadets, from Bidar to Mysuru, Belagavi, and Mangaluru, with vehicles and facilities provided.

• Alternative data on Underage Pregnancies (as per JD(S) floor leader Suresh Babu):

– Total number reportedly at 26,000 underage pregnancies.
– Highest numbers recorded in Belagavi (2,622), Bagalkot (897), Ballari (850), Koppal (617).

Indian Opinion Analysis

The data presented highlights that despite existing interventions like CWCs and child safety helplines, Karnataka continues to grapple with a troubling prevalence of child marriages. The correlation between these marriages and underage pregnancies underscores an urgent need for more effective multi-departmental coordination as emphasized by the Minister. Societal norms deeply rooted in specific communities appear as barriers that require sustained community engagement alongside stricter enforcement of legal provisions against child marriage.

The “Akka Pade” initiative demonstrates promise as a local-level preventive model. Its expansion into additional districts reflects optimism but also demands sufficient resource allocation for long-term effectiveness. Meanwhile, discrepancies between government-reported figures on underage pregnancies versus alternative statistics signal the necessity for standardized data collection systems to ensure targeted policymaking.

Addressing this issue holistically will involve reinforcing education accessibility for girls alongside sensitization programs aimed at reshaping societal attitudes towards early marriage-a long-term process requiring ongoing commitment from all stakeholders.

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