Five underage marriages prevented in Medchal district

As many as five underage marriages- four of prospective grooms and a bride, were prevented today in neighbouring Medchal district due to the intervention of child welfare officials and police.

Acting on specific information, the officials went to a religious place at Jagathgirigutta, where 21 marriages were to be solemnised, but after verification discovered that some of the grooms and a bride were underage for the marriages, a senior official said.

"Four prospective grooms were found to be in the age group of 18-19 years, while one bride was 16 years old," Medchal district Women, Child, Disabled and Senior Citizen Officer N K Swarupa Rani told PTI.

The family members of the underage grooms and bride were counselled and they voluntarily decided against performing the marriages and the boys and girl were shifted to rehabilitation home, the official said, adding the would-be brides of the prospective grooms were aged below 15 years.

During verification it was also found that family members, in order to avail financial benefit under the Telangana government's 'Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak' scheme, allegedly put false age in the certificates, Rani said, adding the matter is under investigation.

A police official said no case has been registered so far as they had not received any complaints.

In March this year, the Telangana government enhanced the financial benefit under its 'Kalyana Lakshmi/ Shaadi Mubarak' scheme from Rs 75,116 to Rs 1,00,116.

The state government provides financial assistance for marriage of girls belonging to poor families under the 'Kalyana Lakshmi/Shaadi Mubarak' scheme.

It was introduced on October 2, 2014.