District administration stops child marriage in Madhya Pradesh

INDORE: Child marriage of a 13-year-old girl was stopped in Bakukhedi village here by the district administration today.

Acting on a tip-off, a team of Women and Child Development Department officials rushed to the venue and stopped the minor wedding last night, district women empowerment officer Sanjay Bardwaj said.

The girl's family members tried to mislead the department officials and police by presenting another adult girl as the bride, he said.

However, with the help of an aanganwadi worker, the officials found out that the actual bride was minor as per the school records, he said.

The officials informed the girl's family about the marriage law, after which they gave an undertaking that they would not get her married till she turns 18.

Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the marriage of a boy below 21 years of age and a girl below 18 is an offence and attracts a 2-year imprisonment of Rs one lakh fine, or both.