OUR STAFF REPORTER Bhopal
The State governments initiative to discourage child marriages on Akshaya Tritiya bore fruits as the administration foiled child marriages in different parts of the state. On the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya,
thousands of couples tied the nuptial knot.
In Shajapur district, administration foiled 45 marriages between minors.
However it had to face public ire when it interfered in a mass marriage. Around 190 marriages were to be performed in the function.
Marriages of 40- 45 minors were foiled. It was occasion of mass marriage of Rajput Samaj at Udaijod in Shajapur district.
According to Women and Child welfare department at least, nine child marriages each at Bhopal and Indore divisions, 10 in Jabalpur, four in Sagar, 13 in Ujjain, two each in Gwalior and Rewa divisions were foiled.
SDM Ajay Gupta foiled marriage of 40- 45 minor pairs in Rajput Samaj mass marriage of Udaijod, Shajapur district. No case has been registered.
District Public relation officer Mittal said, ‘We stopped 40- 50 child marriages.
Local residents protested and even pelted our vehicles with stones.
But in the meantime, police forces arrived and protected us from errant mob’. Similarly, administration prevented a child marriage at Sarafa Bazaar under Kotwali polices station in Jabalpur.
The bridegroom tendered a written apology as confession.
SDM ( Jabalpur) Nidhi Rajput said, ‘we prevented marriage of Punam Rajak, 15, and Kamlesh Rajak, 25.
Girl was of Upendraganj, Sarafa Bazaar under Kotwali police station and bridegroom was of Gotegaon. Barat returned to Gotegaon after tendering apology in writing’. ‘As soon as we came to know about the marriage, which was going to be solemnised and we rushed and foiled the marriage. Even the bridegroom admitted his mistake and tendered a written apology’, Nidhi added.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan, in letters to all the ministers, had instructed them to take initiative to discourage child marriage. Even Women and child welfare minister Ranjana Baghel had requested MPs, MLAs, Panch, Sarpanch and Corporators to discourage marriages of minors.
