Taking into account the alarming figures of child marriage cases registered in Jharkhand, the Department of Health and Family Welfare on May 10 released the district- wise report of child marriage cases.
The consolidated report suggests that 38 per cent cases of child marriage are reported from Jharkhand, making it one of the worst states in the country which is yet to get rid of this menace. If recent national figures are taken into account, the tribal State has been listed at third position in the high child marriage prevalence states.
According to the data of the Health Department, Godda district registers maximum cases of Child Marriage with 63.5 per cent cases followed by Garhwa and Deoghar districts that record 58.8 per cent and 52.7 per cent incidents of child marriage respectively.
Meanwhile, in order to counter the cases of child marriage that goes unreported, the Department has started a helpline number service – 104. Any incident of child marriage (before the marriage takes place) can be reported on this number. Further, to counter this social evil, the Department of Health and Family Welfare will expand this programme as ‘Mukhabir Yojana’ in the days to come.
As per the communiqué, the Civil Surgeons (CSs) of all such districts from where incidents of child marriage are on constant rise have been directed to conduct a counseling session with the family members of underage girls on ‘Family Planning’ considering the bane of early maternity on her health.
Also, taking maternal mortality rate (MMR), Infant mortality rate (IMR) and other major health issues like anemia, the Civil Surgeons will be advising and convincing the families. The communiqué released by the Department of Health and Family Welfare also asked the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to conduct a monthly meeting at the Gram Panchayats brainstorming on measures to curtail child marriage cases.
Focusing on the root cause of child marriage, the DCs have been directed to take appropriate steps to eradicate child marriages from the respective blocks and circles involving the stakeholders mapping all the vulnerable aspects.
Ironically, the menace of child marriage that accounts for up to 38 per cent cases in the State could not be resolved despite having stringent norms and different government schemes. According to the experts and child rights activists, the only way out to exterminate the cases of child marriage is through strengthening the grass root system.
Jharkhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (JSCPCR), Chairperson, Arti Kujur said, “The problem of child marriage persists as there is no follow-up of cases that are often reported. The notified agency is doing its tasks or not is also a matter of concern. Only through involvement of grass root level personnel like Self Help Group (SHG) workers, Sahiyas the problem can be resolved. Here legal awareness plays a pivotal role which can be addressed in association with JHAlSA and conducting seminar in interior areas.”