Minor tribal girls rescued hours before marriage in Odisha

KalingaTV News Network

Malkangiri: The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) rescued two minor tribal girls hours before their marriage from MPV-29 and MPV-23 under Kalimela Block of the district on Thursday.

According to reports, the CWC officials rushed to the villages based on a tip-off and rescued the girls from their house and produced them before the CWC office.

The girls’ marriages were scheduled to be held today. The villagers and family member had arranged the marriages against the wish of the minor girls.

However, parents of the rescued girls admitted the fact which they had planned due to ignorance of the Child Marriage Act.

“A team of CWC members went to the village after getting a call on 1098. The girls were rescued in the presence of police . They were slated to be married this evening,” said the CDPO who was also present during the rescue operation.

“Conducting child marriage is an offence as per the law of the land. However, the rural people are unaware of such laws. One of the rescued girls is a ninth standard girl while the other is a +2 student. ” said the Chairman of the CWC.

“We will make all necessary steps for their education and ensure that they will not get married before attaining the marriageable age that is 18-year-old,” added the CWC Chairman saying that the CWC may provide them financial support for their education.

The CWC Chairman further said that the parents of the rescued girls will take their respective daughters with a written agreement for not to get them married before they turn 18.