Legal consequences of child marriage dissected
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 29 2022: A day-long state level sensitization-cum-consultation workshop on "Preventing Child Marriage in Manipur" was organised jointly by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) and Manipur Seva Samiti at Manipur Press Club, here, on Thursday.

The consultation workshop delved on the need to understand the legal consequences and health issues of child marriage.

Social Welfare director Ng Uttam, who was present as one of the presidium members, elaborated on Child Marriage Prevention Act, and said that preventing a marriage on the day of the marriage ceremony itself is not desired.

However, considering the ill consequences and negative impacts juveniles entering into marriage would face in their future, the Child Marriage Prevention Act was framed and implemented.

Nevertheless, preventing child marriage in the right way is a big challenge in the state as there had been various instances where the parents of the bride-to-be and groom along with the locality misunderstood action of the department and concerned organisations.

Therefore, in order to prevent such misunderstandings from happening it is necessary for the public to understand the provisions of Child Marriage Prevention Act thoroughly, he stressed.

The director further appealed to parents to take the right step when their adolescent child elopes so as to save them from the health and mental issues they could experience in the long run.

MCPCR chairperson Phurailatpam Manibabu Sharma, who was also present at the workshop as one of the presidium members, said that a person is considered mentally and physically matured only when they attain 18 (for girls) and 21 (for boys) years of age.

However, parents should never encourage their children to get married life at tender age despite the fact that repeated elopement cases are quite common and problematic in Manipur.

Social Welfare joint director Bantee Singh Konthoujam and Imphal East ADC and Zila Parishad CEO Ngangbam Jogendra Khumancha were also present as presidium members.

During the technical session, Manipur High Court advocate and MCPCR panel counsel Thiyam Ra-jkishore spoke on "Prevention of child marriages and law to mitigate the menace: The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2021"; Manipur High Court advocate Irengbam Bikramjit on "Understanding the problem of child marriage in Manipur"; CWC, Thoubal chairperson L Romen Meetei on "Impact of child marriage - A case study"; and MCPCR programme officer Sumel Yumnam on "NCPCR/MCPCR and safeguarding child rights and laws" as resource persons.

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