The People's Cultural Centre (PECUC) in collaboration with SOA National University of law, IACR, OACR, NACG-EVAC, Odisha, AEIN and TDH[G] organised a consultative conclave on ‘Ending child marriage: Moving from law to justice,’ to raise awareness on prevention of child marriage and safeguarding the vulnerable section.
Former Chief Justice of Manipur High Court Justice laxmikanth Mohapatra as chief guest stated that poverty, illiteracy and superstition are the major causes leading to child marriages in India.
To fight against such social evil, there is a need for awareness, which needs to be created by the stakeholders, Government and social activists.
PECUC secretary Ranjan Kumar Mohanty while welcoming and sharing purpose of the workshop said there has been a decline of 15.9 per cent in marriages of women before 18 years and 11.2 per cent in marriages of men before 21 years.
Dean SOA National law Institute Prof Prabeer Pattnaik emphasised on Section 16 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. HC senior advocate Sourya Sundar Das said that there is a need for increased awareness and the State Government should implement the laws in a stringent manner to eradicate the social menace. In the technical session, Principal MS law College SK Nanda, Dean, Xavier law School Narayan Chandra Sarangi, legal professional Dr SAK Azad, advocate Dhaneswar Mohanty and Anuradha Mohanty presented on various aspects of the law and gave recommendations too.
Other eminent guests included Professors from the PG Department of law, Utkal University, MS law College, Cuttack, Xavier School of law, KIIT law School, Sambalpur University and members form the Orissa High Court and State Bar Associations.