Savadatti records highest No. of child marriage plaints

Belagavi: The Ranuka Yallamma temple in Savadatti is known for the devadasi system attached to it. However, that social evil has come under control to a large extent due to various stringent steps taken by the govt in the past few years. Now, Savadatti taluk is again in the news with another social evil - child marriage.
The women and child welfare department has received the highest number of child marriage-related cases in the past four months—between April and July from Savadatti.The department received a total of 83 complaints of child marriage in the 14 taluks of the district, and the highest, 26, are from Savadatti.

The district child protection cell in the department, which is struggling hard to control child marriages, succeeded in rescuing 23 girls in Savadatti taluk. However, three other cases went out of their control. The cell has registered FIRs in those three cases against the parents of both families, including the bridegroom.
Speaking to the TOI, district child protection officer (DCPO) Lokesh Jagalur said: “We have already created a lot of legal awareness in Savadatti. However, child marriage attempts are taking place in some tandas in the taluk and among the working class residing there who have migrated here,” he stated.
After Savadatti, the second-highest child marriage attempts have been detected in Gokak taluk. The department received 15 such complaints, and the office of DCPO successfully rescued the girls in all cases. Altogether, in 14 taluks of the district, the department rescued 68 girls and eight underage boys from child marriage in the past four months. In seven cases, where child marriages were already held, FIRs have been registered against both parties.
CDPO Lokesh Jagalur said: “These days, people are using various secret techniques to conduct child marriages. They follow secret techniques like Yadi Pe Shadi (wedding of stamp paper agreement), Godhooli marriage (weddings planned at midnight), etc. This is not happening just among backward communities but among the forward communities too. Many times, we get information from the local anganwadi workers or some others related to the girl or boy’s family or their close ones, which helps us to rescue the girl,” he said.