Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar has directed officers of various departments to take action as per the suggestions made in the research study conducted by the Women and Child Development Department on prohibition of child marriage in the State.
A spokesman of the Women and Child Development Department on Sunday said that the study, which was got conducted through the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, offered many suggestions on prohibition of child marriage. These included convergence of efforts to bring about a change in attitude of the people through the efforts of the government machinery, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) working for women and children, community-based organisations and the media.
He added that the media could also be used to change the mindset with the help of street plays, poster campaigns, television documentaries, SMS campaigns, radio shows and printed articles.
Other suggestions include spread of legal literacy through wide dissemination of information about the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act (PWDVA), 2005, Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, and other related laws. Apart from this, a few other suggestions like promotion of access to education, which would provide girls with increased livelihood options, and financial assistance to girls for education through more scholarships and schemes could be considered, he added.
It was also suggested in the study that efforts be made to spread awareness about the existing state schemes providing financial assistance for the education and marriage of the girl child, promoting an atmosphere of security for girls, compulsory registration of birth and marriages and making Panchayat members responsible for reporting child marriages.
The report laid particular emphasis on the need for regular tracking and follow-up of children whose marriages have been prohibited to ensure that no further attempts are made to marry them off before they attain majority and provide emotional support and counselling to them and their families. The follow-up would also include provision of networking and referral services for accessing various support services, including education, medical care, shelter and financial assistance, on a need basis.
Other suggestions mentioned in the study report included sensitisation of the Police and lower-level judiciary and making pre-marriage registration of couples with age proof mandatory for mass marriages. Mass marriages should not be allowed without informing the Protection-cum-Prohibition Officer (PPO) concerned. Also, there should be additional support and clear procedural guidelines for the PPOs and improvement in documentation, added the spokesman.