Awareness on child marriage through “Operation Smile – IX” programme

District Additional Collector (Revenue) D Venugopal indicated that the government has undertaken a public awareness program called “Operation Smile-IX” to prevent child marriages.

on Monday a meeting was held at I.D.O.C on “Operation Smile” program in the conference hall. On this occasion, he said that in order to prevent child marriages, awareness should be created in the people for a month from January 1 under the name of “Operation Smile” and everyone should work for this. And also, he said that it is a crime under the law to marry someone below the age of 18 years for girls and 21 years for boys, under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006 & the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act-2012. And 10 years imprisonment for their parents and guardians and also, they would be eligible for punishment and a fine of one lakh rupees could be imposed.

On this occasion, District Welfare Officer Pushpalatha said that in the “Operation Smile” program, 7 departments will be coordinated to create awareness among the people. She indicated that the District Collector, Police, Revenue Department, Child Line, CDPO, Child Welfare Officer and C.W.C departments are working.She said that it can be prevented by providing information to the authorities to cancel marriages, not participating in child marriages, improving the educational skills of children and giving advice to parents through children.

She said that if child marriages are done, the parents and guardians of the children will be eligible for punishment, along with them the groom, priest, mediators, marriage elders, all those who helped and participated in child marriages will be eligible for punishment. She suggested that children should call the toll free number (1098) and women helpline (181) in case of any emergency and give their information.

Later, he released the wall magazine of Operation Smile “Child Marriage ie Balala Vedhimpe” along with the district officials.

District Welfare Officer Pushpalatha, C.W.C, Ali Velamma CDPO, Revenue, Police department officials, district officials and staff were present in this program. Others participated.