Deputy Commissioner Richard Vincent D’Souza directed officials to file an FIR against parents who push their minor children to marriage.

The instances of child marriages have come to light in the district, said the deputy commissioner. Chairing a district-level coordination committee meeting here on Tuesday, he reminded, “Child marriage is an offence,” and warned of initiating action against officials from the Women and Child Development Department if any child marriage case is reported in the district.

“Taluk-level workshops should be organised to create awareness on the ill-effects of child marriage, dowry system and domestic violence. Child marriages take place for lack of fear of law. The people, therefore, should have knowledge and fear of the law,” explained the deputy commissioner.

D’Souza directed the officials to supply nutritious food to the children in anganwadi centres. A list of nutritious food being supplied to pregnant women, puerperal women, and adolescent girls should be prepared, he added.

Zilla Panchayat chief executive officer (CEO) Charulatha Somal said that the work on anganwadi buildings should be completed at the earliest.

Women and Child Development Department deputy director Mumthaz also spoke during the meeting.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / DH News Service, Madikeri / July 12th, 2017