Authorities gear up to stop child marriages on Akshya Tritaya

To prevent solemnisation of child marriages on 'Akshya Tritaya' on May 2, Bundi authorities are organising meetings and workshops, and have set up a special control room to check the practice.
Child marriages are solemnised every year on Akha Teej or Akshaya Tritaya in Bundi, Kota, Baran and Jhalawar district in Gurjar, Meena, Mali, Kumawat, Barva and other backward communities, despite tight vigilance of government and non government bodies.
Additional District Magistrate Ramjivan Meena called a meeting of the office bearers of Restaurant Association and marriage party cooks yesterday and asked them to avoid participation in any child marriage.
The associations also assured the district administration to extend full support for the prevention of the social blot.

Teams headed by government officials have been constituted at panchayat levels to keep a watch over possible child marriages in the villages.
The owners of printing press houses have also been directed to collect the birth certificates from the parents of young matches, and to print the same on the invitation cards so that no under aged could be married off, he said.

"Child marriage is a social evil and legal crime and any person performing it or participating in it must be brought to the book for punishment," ADM said.
The district officials at sub divisional and panchayat level have also been asked to explain the provisions of punishment in Child Marriage Act to the people associated with business of wedding arrangements.

Awareness meetings and rallies about the evils of child marriages are also being organised in the villages to create awareness among the people, ADM Meena said.
Anganbadi workers, teachers and members of non government organisations active in the field to check any possible child marriage.