Date:21/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/21/stories/2006012104761001.htm

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

On child marriage

This refers to the article "The challenge of curbing child marriage" (Jan. 19). Neither any political party nor the legal fraternity, much less the people, has taken the issue seriously. The Government appears unwilling to crack down on the practice and its ambivalence is echoed with equal lethargy at every level.

The law itself is weak. The police do not have the authority to arrest anyone about to take part in a marriage, and the bureaucratic procedure is so complicated that most weddings are over by the time the papers are ready. Despite laws, the evil continues to survive.

T. Marx,
Karaikal, Pondicherry

Child marriage continues to take place because of illiteracy. Governments should create awareness through the media and rallies. Publicity on the lines of the pulse polio programme should be taken up.

N. Yateesh Parikshit,
Guntur, A.P.

The issue should be analysed in the context of the dichotomy in post-independent India — modernised politico-economic structure with feudal socio-cultural structure and practices.

Society and state should therefore be not only modernised but also sensitised to such issues.

Anju Gurawa,
New Delhi

Child marriage is also a kind of violence against children. The victims are not even aware of the crime they are being subjected to. The practice has deep cultural roots in some societies and is very difficult to eliminate. Rural communities are accustomed to the practice and see nothing wrong with it. This is mainly due to illiteracy. Groups working to eradicate this evil should first educate the parents on the mental and physical hazards.

Priyanka Chakrabarty,
Guwahati

Child marriages have been through many generations and largely legitimised by culture and tradition. So the biggest challenge lies in fighting such traditions, not in merely enforcing the law. Along with strict enforcement, it is important to have awareness programmes at the grass roots.

S. Priya,
Chennai

The suggestion of appointing Child Marriage Prevention Officers is commendable. The post should be occupied by enthusiastic and unemployed youth including women. The officers should be appointed especially in the villages where the problem persists.

Priyanka Rao,
Visakhapatnam, A.P.