Child marriages on the rise in Andhra: NCW

As it grapples with the practice of child marriages in the Hindi heartland, the National Commission for Women says the problem is on the ris...

As it grapples with the practice of child marriages in the Hindi heartland, the National Commission for Women says the problem is on the rise even in southern states.

Commission member Nirmala Seetharaman told The Indian Express child marriages are common in at least two Andhra Pradesh districts, Warangal and Nizamuddin. ‘‘The problem of child marriages is far more serious than female foeticide,’’ she said.

Claiming such marriages are on the rise, she said the phenomenon is linked to rising levels of poverty in rural areas, which is forcing more women to work. ‘‘They feel insecure about leaving their girls at home and the easy way out is to secure the child’s life by marrying her off,’’ she said.

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For now, the NCW will focus on Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand, where child marriages are common during Akha Teej festival, on May 11. The National Human Rights Commission has directed the Centre and state governments to act in time to prevent child marriages during the festival.

‘‘The focus is on spreading awareness by involving village heads and law-enforcing agencies in the most vulnerable areas,’’ said NCW chairperson Girija Vyas.

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