255 child marriages stopped in a year: Collector

Child Helpline has succeeded in stopping 255 child marriages during the past one year in Beed district, District Collector Deepa Mudhol Munde said as she congratulated them on reaching the milestone and added, "our aim is to make it zero child marriage in the district".

According to the official press statement on Thursday, Child marriage eradication campaign is being implemented strictly in the district under the guidance of Collector Mudhol-Munde.

Innovative but necessary measures were being planned to prevent child marriages in the district. The Child Helpline 1098 under the office of District Women and Child Development Officer has succeeded in stopping as many as 255 child marriages between April 2023 and March 2024.

Last year, cases of child marriage were reported from Ashti, Parli, Gevrai talukas of Beed district.

In order to curb these cases, various public awareness programs were carried out at the village level, anti-child marriage pledges, street dramas, dawandi among others, which has helped much in stopping minor girls in the village become victim to the social evil.

The parents' sessions conducted in the villages and the work of other NGOs have made people understand the ill effects of child marriage, it said.

In case of child marriage or any case related to children in distress, information should be shared with Child Helpline, 1098, a toll free number. The names of informants are kept confidential, it said.

The contact person is Ashwini Jagtap, District Coordinator Child Helpline Beed, who sits in Varad Pride Complex 1st Floor Dhanora Road Beed (and email: [email protected]).