As part of the ongoing 100-Days Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child-Marriage Free Bharat under the NALSA’ s ASHA (Awareness, Support, Help and Action) SOP and the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), East Jaintia Hills District today organized a Legal Literacy Programme-cum-Street Play aimed at creating awareness on the Prevention of Child Marriage Campaign at two locations under Lumshnong C&RD Block, East Jaintia Hills District.
The programme was conducted under NALSA’s ASHA SOP and the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign at Lumshnong and Wahiajer Villages, East Jaintia Hills District witnessing active participation from members of the public.
Through Street Plays (NukkadNataks), important messages are being conveyed, highlighting the harmful physical, social and educational consequences of Child Marriage, particularly on young girls.
The initiative was organized under the aegis of the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA), Shillong, with the objective of fostering legal awareness and encouraging community participation towards building a Child-Marriage free society.
The programme was attended by Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel, Smti. R. Manar, Deputy Legal Aid Defence Counsel, Smti. K. Challam, other Legal Aid Defence Counsels (LADCs), Legal Aid Counsels (LACs) along with staff members of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), East Jaintia Hills District.
In her address, Chief Legal Aid Defence Counsel, Smti. R. Manar highlighted key provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, emphasizing the legal consequences of Child Marriage and the importance of safeguarding children’s rights.
Smti R. Manar further elaborated the grave consequences of Child Marriage stating that anyone found solemnizing or soliciting child marriage can be punished with 2years imprisonment along with fine. She further said that the Prevention of Child Marriage Act is further complemented by the stronger POCSO Act, 2012 that punishes offenders with imprisonment of upto 20 years or more.
While narrating the Street Play, Smti. R. Manar explained the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, stating that any person below 18 years is considered a minor under the law. The skit highlighted how Child Marriage often occurs due to ignorance or misunderstanding of legal provisions.
The Street Play depicted a case wherein a priest unknowingly solemnized the marriage of a 20-year-old boy with a 16-year-old girl. Following the girl’s pregnancy and hospital visit, the doctor, as mandated by law, informed the police, leading to police intervention and arrest of both the husband and the priest for violating the law.
Concluding the narration, Smti. Manar emphasized that anyone who encourages or facilitates Child Marriage will face legal consequences. She further stressed that Child Marriage severely affects a girl’s education, health and future, and called for collective responsibility from all stakeholders to eradicate the practice.
Later in the day, a similar programme was also conducted at Wahiajer Village as part of the same initiative to extend legal awareness on the prevention of Child Marriage to a wider section of the public.
The speakers also urged participants to promptly report any incidents of Child Marriage by utilizing the Child Helpline Number 1098 and the Toll-Free Number 15100 and assured that the DLSA would continue providing free legal aid and counselling services to victims and their families.
People were encouraged to remain vigilant, support their peers, and actively spread awareness within their families and communities, thereby contributing towards the vision of a Child-Marriage-Free Society.
