Baipariguda April 04: An awareness camp on the prevention of child marriage was organized today at Makaput Government High School under the initiative of the Legal Services Authority, Jeypore.
On this occasion, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Koraput, Dr. B. Gayatri Devi, attended as the chief guest. Among the other guests were Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel Pramod Kumar Dash, Deputy Legal Aid Defense Counsel Dibakar Rao, and the school Headmaster Rajkishore Paikaray.
The main objective of the program was to create awareness about the legal framework initiated by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to prevent, protect, and rehabilitate victims of child marriage. The initiative focuses on awareness, support, assistance, and action to eliminate the practice of child marriage.
The program also aimed to promote awareness about the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and to establish institutional mechanisms for providing legal remedies as well as medical and psychological support.
It was explained that marriages involving boys below 21 years of age and girls below 18 years are considered child marriages. Such marriages can be annulled at the request of the concerned party, and an application for annulment can be filed within two years of attaining adulthood.
In cases where a child is taken away from parental custody, enticed, sold, or trafficked for marriage, such marriages are considered void.
The students present at the camp were informed that any adult marrying a minor, or anyone who performs, conducts, directs, or promotes child marriage, can face punishment of up to two years of rigorous imprisonment or a fine of up to Rs1 lakh, or both.
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