VCPC Stops Child Marriage

In Orwai village of Tarwadih Panchayat of Latehar Block, Latehar district of Jharkhand, marriage of 13 year old Imarti (name changed for privacy) was fixed by her parents.Child Protection Committee of the village decided to act against it. They consulted the family members to mobilize them to stop the marriage that child. Initially, the members of family did not agree and argued that they have already made all arrangement and cannot change the decision. Through repeated visit, the VCPC member counselled the family members of the bad effects of child marriage, provisions of Child Marriage Act and even informed them of the punitive aspects of that Act. After a thorough discussion, the parents agreed to stop marriage and have promised that they will get her married only after she attains the age 18 years.