After anonymous tip, Childline stops a 17-year-old girl from being married off to settle father's financial woes

According to sources, due to the illness of the victim's father, family members had planned to arrange a marriage for the minor girl with a 25-year-old man
Image for representational purpose only (Pic: TNIE)
Image for representational purpose only (Pic: TNIE)

The timely intervention of government officials headed by Childline has stopped a child marriage that was going to take place on Wednesday at Madukkarai, on the outskirts of Coimbatore. A 17-year-old girl was rescued from the marriage arrangements and the officials were successful in convincing the family to wait untill the girl turned 18.

According to Childline officials, they received an anonymous phone call on Monday where the caller gave a tipoff that a child marriage would have been arranged at Madukkarai on Wednesday and prior to that an engagement ceremony was held recently in the same surrounding.

After finding the victim girl's family on Monday, a team, including the officials of the social welfare department, members of One-step centre headed by Childline approached them to ask to stop the marriage.

"Along with the officials, the Childline volunteers explained to the girl's family members the consequences of child marriage and convinced them to stop it. The girl is studying in class XI, so we asked them to help her studies until she gets an age for marriage. They later understood the consequences and agreed to stop the wedding. we have assured to help her studies if they are willing to need financial assistance for her study" said S Joseph Rahman Kennedy, Councillor of Childline.

According to sources, due to the illness of the victim's father, family members had planned to arrange a marriage for the minor girl with a 25-year-old man belongs to the same Madukkarai surroundings. Later the girl was also advised to wait until she turned 18 years to get married.

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