Village-level committees formed in Perambalur to check child marriages

Members of the village-level committees constituted to check child marriages in Perambalur district have been asked to sensitise general public at the grass-roots level on the ill effects of child marriage and alert officials concerned in case they came across such instances to thwart them. 

This message was driven home at the first meeting organised in Perambalur by the district administration with members of the newly formed village-level committees. Presided over by Collector N. Mirunalini, the meeting saw the participation of various government departments.

Instances of child marriages at various villages in Perambalur district had prompted the district administration to constitute committees at the district level, taluk, and village levels to prevent them.  Child marriages were reported in villages such as Kowlpalayam, Eraiyur, Kalpadi, Vadakkumadevi, Thimmur, Pommanabadi, Kolakanatham, Melamathur, Perumathur, Arumbavur, Noothapur, Neikuppai and Pasumbalur in the last one year. 

The committees at the grass-roots level had been constituted in those village panchayats in the first phase where instances of child marriages were reported more, the Collector said. The multi-member village-level committees include the Village Administrative Officer, school headmaster, village health nurse, members of self-help groups and those attached with the District Child Protection Unit.

Those forming part of the village-level committees have better network in their respective areas and know about the happenings in their respective villages, the Collector said and added that groups on social messaging platforms had been created comprising the members. The members could share information on the groups in case they came across any information on arrangements being made for child marriage which would prompt the officials concerned to take swift action.