11.5 lakh found ‘vulnerable’ to child marriage: Study

NEW DELHI: A drive to identify children at risk of

child marriage

, conducted on the directions of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, shows that more than 11.5 lakh children in 27 states and seven UTs, most of them girls, were found “vulnerable” as they had either dropped out of school, were out or school, or had been irregular or absent from school for long without any intimation to school authorities.

Of the children identified, more than 5 lakh children were classified as vulnerable in UP, 1.5 lakh in Assam, and close to 1 lakh in MP. Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands reported no

vulnerable children

. The

NCPCR

report also states that many districts did not conduct the exercise, and Goa and Ladakh did not share data.
The campaign launched in March this year nearly a month ahead of

Akshya Tritya

– a day when a large number of child marriages are solemnised in the garb of mass marriages – resulted in states mapping over 6 lakh schools covering nearly three lakh villages and blocks across 34 states and UTs.
The data has been sent to states last week along with a letter from NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo who has asked to ensure measures to step-up prevention of child marriage. Of the identified children, the states have been asked to collect data on ‘at risk’ children.

Speaking to TOI on Wenesday, which was also his last day in office as he completed his second term as NCPCR chairperson, Kanoongo said, “Ensuring children are in school is a critical preventive measure to combat child marriage.”
Among various preventive measures that the states were told to take, NCPCR had asked them to prepare a school-wise list of children who are drop out, out of school and not attending school regularly. They were also asked to draw a separate of children absent from school without intimation to the principal.
The list was to be prepared by the education department of the district and shared with the district magistrate and the child marriage prohibition officer to identify children from these lists who can be at risk of child marriage. They were also asked to conduct family counselling and proper inquiry of all such identified children.