Dehradun: The recently implemented Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in Uttarakhand is already showing significant effects. Enforced on January 27, the UCC has set the legal marriage age for girls at 18 years.
In light of this, the State Child Development Department has taken swift action to prevent the marriage of six minor girls who were not in the marriageable age as per the UCC rules.
Last week, department prevented four minor girls’ wedding, scheduled in next month
Last week, the state child development department reported that the four girls, aged between 15 and 17 years, were scheduled to be married next month in Uchhola village, located in Jakholi tehsil of Rudraprayag district. The UCC’s provision for the minimum marriage age being 18 years enabled the authorities to intervene. The intervention began when the Child Development Department received a complaint on the Child Helpline regarding the impending marriages. Acting promptly, a team from the department visited the village to counsel the families and explain the provisions of the UCC.
Two more minor’s wedding prevented today
In a conversation with News9live, Akhilesh Mishra, District Program Officer of the Child Development Department, Rudraprayag, stated, “last week, during an awareness campaign related to girl’s safety, we received information from some school girls that the marriage of minor girls from three families in Uchhola village was scheduled for next month. Our team visited the village, counseled the families, and informed them about the ill effects of child marriage as well as the legal provisions of the UCC. Consequently, the families agreed to postpone the marriages until these girls’ become adults.” “We received information today about two more marriages to be held in Ukhimath block and we followed the same procedure to get these weddings stopped; he added.”
Complaints about minor girls’ marriages in several villages
Deepika, the District Coordinator who led the intervention team, mentioned that cases of minor girls’ marriages have been reported in the Jakholi development block for some time. The Child Helpline in Rudraprayag had received complaints about minor girls’ marriages in several villages. In response to this sensitive issue, the district administration and the District Program Officer collaborated with local schools to gather details of the girls studying in these villages. Based on this information, the intervention team visited Uchhola village on Friday, successfully preventing the marriages of four minor girls aged 15 to 17 years.
Intervention has ensured that these young girls are given the opportunity to complete their education
Furthermore, Deepika added, “The marriage of two girls aged 15 and 17 years was planned within the same family. Our intervention has ensured that these young girls are given the opportunity to complete their education and grow into adulthood before entering into marriage.” The implementation of the UCC in Uttarakhand marks a crucial step towards protecting the rights and welfare of young girls in the state. By setting the legal marriage age at 18, the UCC aims to combat child marriage and promote the well-being of minors.
