Maharashtra government prevented 790 child marriages in a year during Covid-19 pandemic

MUMBAI: The state women and child Development department (WCD) with the help of Childline and a few social organisations have successfully prevented as many as 790 child marriages in the last year during the Covid-19 pandemic, said minister for WCD Yashomati Thakur.
The department launched the state-wide awareness campaign on Thursday which will continue till September to curb child marriages in the state.
While launching the programme, Thakur said that as a part of the campaign to prevent child marriages, the department will use various methods including social media platforms to discuss stories of girls rescued out of child marriage, counselling parents and engaging social workers in the initiative.
An official said that in last year, as many as 790 child marriages across Maharashtra have been prevented by the WCD with the help of police, social workers and Childline during the Covid-19 pandemic and the lockdown-like restrictions period.
Of the total 790, the highest 88 were from Solapur district, 62 in Aurangabad, 45 each in Osmanabad and Nanded, 42 in Yavatmal and 40 in Beed district.
Thakur said, “The department has set up an expert committee to make the rule, framed under the prohibition of child marriage Act 2006, stricter to prevent incidents. At the same time, there is a need to strengthen social organisations working at the rural level, local child protection committees and Childline-1098.”
UNICEF and Akshara Center will also be a part of the WCD awareness campaign.