The Ganjam administration in an attempt to prevent the rising trend of child marriage in the district has taken certain stringent norms, sources said.
Now, before marriage, Aadhaar cards of both the bride and groom will be checked in order to verify their eligibility age for marriage, said Ganjam district Collector Amruta Kulange speaking at a seminar on “Say No to child Marriage” held at Chhatrapur on Tuesday.
At village level, a committee will be constituted taking ANMs, Anganwadi workers and teachers of the locality who will examine the Aadhaar cards of both the bride and the bride groom, besides checking the their age (18 years in case of girl and 21 years in case of boy).
In case, any discrepancy is found, the committee will draw the attention of the representatives of the local panchayat or chief of the service organizations ( Kaulika Sangathan). If the matter is not settled there, legal proceedings may be taken to prevent child marriage, Kulange pointed out.
However, the Ganjam Collector said that instead of taking recourse in legal process, an amicably solution at local level is a good idea and organisations, civic bodies, volunteers, village chiefs and elected local representatives should settle the matter. They should also make efforts for an effective awareness campaign to sensitise the rural public, he told. Kullange further said that before a marriage is executed, examination of blood group and HIV test will be made compulsory. Members of different organisations who played a key role in preventing child marriages were felicitated on the occasion.
It may be mentioned here that, the rate of child marriage in Ganjam district is highest in the State (29 per cent) compared to the whole State’s 21 per cent.