THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, February 5: Calling for collective responsibility to end child marriage, Neeta Chouhan, District Social Welfare Officer, Palamu, urged families and communities to take a firm stand against the social evil.
“Say no to child marriage is not just a slogan—it carries meaning. Every member of the family must come forward and refuse it,” she said, making a passionate appeal to the public.
Child Marriage Still Reported in Palamu
Under the law, the minimum legal age of marriage is 18 years for girls and 21 years for men. Despite this, Palamu continues to witness incidents of child marriage, including cases where the age gap between the girl and the groom ranges from 20 to 30 years, the officer revealed.
During the current financial year, as many as 17 child marriage attempts have been stopped midway due to timely intervention by the administration.
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Community Alertness Making a Difference
Explaining how authorities receive information about impending child marriages, Neeta Chouhan said increased public awareness and vigilance have played a key role.
“Earlier, people were largely indifferent. Now, aware and concerned citizens inform us in advance and even share exact locations. This is a very positive change. People are stepping forward to stop this social evil,” she said.
Meanwhile, police and civil officials are searching for a man accused of marrying a minor girl in the Paton block. Efforts are underway to trace him and take appropriate legal action.
Awareness Campaign Flagged Off
Recently, Neeta Chouhan, along with members of Agar Gati, a non-governmental organisation working actively against child marriage, flagged off a campaign vehicle to spread awareness across Palamu. The NGO team was described as dedicated and sincere in its mission.
Legal Provisions and Enforcement Challenges
Sources pointed out that while child marriage often involves economic inducements, prosecution remains rare. Legal provisions prescribe up to two years’ imprisonment and fines not only for the groom but also for those facilitating the marriage, including guests, cooks, barbers and tent operators.
However, as many such marriages are prevented before solemnisation, cases often fail to reach prosecution due to the absence of a completed offence.
Officials reiterated that sustained awareness, community cooperation and early reporting remain crucial to eradicating child marriage from the district.