Safana – Rescue from Child Marriage

Safana – Rescue from Child Marriage

On 25th June 2013, Safana (aged 16) called to CHILDLINE and informed that her marriage was fixed by her parents. She did not want to marry at such an early age and wanted to continue her studies. She said that she had not been sent to school in the new academic year. Adv. Sandhya (human Rights Law Network) also called to CHILDLINE on the same issue. We contacted Valliathura SI, Mr. Sajin, Fort SI Mr. Prasad and Vanchiyoor police Mr. Baiju Sankar and came to know that the area was under the jurisdiction of Vanchiyoor Police.

They informed that the girl had once run away from home in order to avoid marriage. In order to stop the marriage from happening as it was fixed for the following day, We had to act fast. Though information was passed to the local police, station, the CDPO, the the concerned Jama Ath, no immediate action was being taken as the concerned party were influential. The CHILDLINE team members visited the girl in her home and despite objections talked with the child and collected details and a petition in writing.

Next day morning, the Director called Mr.Sreejith IPS (Top Police Official) and passed the information.  He immediately called up the DCP and asked him to act immediately to stop the marriage. We visited the local police station and passed all the relevant information and the family details of the child. Due to the intervention from top officials, action was taken and the marriage was avoided much to the relief of the child.

It seems that the Kerala society is marching backwards in laws regarding children. Though there are very clear provisions to say that an individual is a child until he/she completes the age of 18, the authorities seem to ignore the same. The recent much criticized circular by the Government brining down the marriageable age of Muslim women to 16 (Rather Muslim Child!) is indeed a shame to the erudite Kerala Society. It is a disgrace that NGOs and other socially responsible citizens have to fight with the Government to make it realize the folly and withdraw the controversial circular.

The case Safana should remind us that a child has her rights to education and full growth before she is burdened with the weight of family life. Often such marriages end with the husband divorcing the poor girl after a few years and she will have to fend for the children. Having no education would often make such women to end their lives as they find it extremely difficult to support the education and other expenses of the family. Let us fight against child marriage!