HT Correspondent
TEZPUR, April 10: “Child marriage not only affects the health and wellbeing of a girl, but it leaves a deep psychological and emotional trauma on the victims”, Riniki Bhuyan Sarma, managing trustee of ‘Sneha Bandhan’ said.
Sarma called the practice of child marriage a curse and urged upon all stakeholders to adopt a hands-on approach to fight against this menace.
Related Posts:
Sarma attended as chief guest in one-day workshop on “Child Marriage: A Curse on the Health and Wellbeing of Victims” in consonance with the United Nations set Sustainable Development Goal No. 3, i.e., “Good Health and Wellbeing” organised by the Centre for Inclusive Development, Tezpur University on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion she also said, “It is a loss of innocence for them and as a society we must ensure that they have a dignified life’’.
She further urged the educational institutions to play a greater role in curbing the menace. Educational institutions should collaborate with governmental/non-governmental agencies/civil societies to understand the issue to facilitate a strong policy framework.
While inaugurating the workshop Prof Shambhu Nath Singh, vice chancellor, Tezpur University highlighted the laws that make child marriage a punishable offence.
“We have laws like “Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage (POCM) Act, 2006, however, despite these laws it is unfortunate that child marriage has remained social menace for the society”, Prof. Singh said.
“Through this workshop, we hope to build momentum for action and advocacy to fight against the practice of child marriage”, he added.
Speaking on the occasion as advisor to the workshop, Prof DK Bhattacharyya, former vice chancellor (acting), Tezpur University emphasized the role of outreach activity (amongst Higher Educational Institutions) to reach out to the sections, where child marriage is prevalent to bring awareness.
Deputy commissioner, Sonitpur Deba Kumar Mishra, briefed the august gathering about the efforts taken by the state government to curb the menace of child marriage. He informed that the child protection officers are given greater responsibility to ensure that children receive legal aid. We have also engaged teachers, anganwadi workers to sensitize people regarding the adverse effect of child marriage, Mishra said.
Eminent child protection consultant, Mumbai Dr Nina Athale, Dean, Royal School of Law and Administration, Royal Global University, Guwahati Dr Bhuban C. Barooah, and Dr Siddeswara Linganna, faculty, Lokopriya Gopinath Bordoloi Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur participated as resource persons in the workshop. The participants of the workshop were social welfare departments, advocates, school teachers, NGO members and students.
