Yogi Adityanath government to launch offensive against child marriages in UP

To free Uttar Pradesh from the scourge of child marriage, the Yogi Adityanath government has directed the police to liaison with local schools at block and district level to check child marriages in the state.
Besides launching awareness campaigns, involving meetings and rallies against the custom, the cops will remain in touch with school staff and act on their tip-offs.
Orders in this regard had been issued by the Yogi Adityanath-led state government which was determined to free the Hindi heartland state of child marriage, said a senior official of UP’s women welfare and child development department.
District magistrates and district police chiefs have been ordered by the principal secretary, women welfare and child development Renuka Kumar to strictly enforce provisions of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006 and also extend support to the ongoing India’s Daughter campaign launched by the Study Hall Education Foundation, Lucknow across the state against the custom and practice of child marriages, the official said.
As per a study by an NGO, Uttar Pradesh tops the country in having the most married children (2.8 million), followed by Bihar and Rajasthan (with 1.6 million each) as per the 2011 census.
Uttar Pradesh, as per the 2011 census, has 2 million married girls in the age group of 10-19 years while the 2.8 million in total (boys and girls) are married in this age group, with the girls accounting for 71% of the total married people in this group.
The state also has the dubious distinction of having the highest number of children born to children: 1 million.
A UNICEF study points out that early marriage hinders educational achievements which in turn leads to poor maternal health and higher infant mortality rate. Child bearing at a young age is detrimental to the health of both the mother and the infant. This is why child marriage affects woman more than man, other than the fact that men are less likely to be married as children.
The UP government has urged the DMs and the SPs that through various initiatives, the thana level cops need to win over confidence of the locals including female teachers, religious leaders and members of the local community so that they receive timely information regarding child marriages and act as per law.
Renuka Kumar has also asked the district officials to organise meetings of ‘India’s Daughter Campaign’ in all schools and also make other district level officers like the basic shiksha adhikaris, district coordinators and others working with the children aware of the need to act against child marriages.
-
Software engineer duped of Rs3.75 lakh by fraudsters
A 41-year-old software engineer, resident of Vishrantwadi who hails from Bihar, fell prey to online fraudsters who tricked him into downloading malware on his mobile phone and siphoned off ₹3.75 lakh from his bank account. The man realised he was conned after he got a transaction alert for nearly ₹3.75 lakh ( ₹3.50 lakh from his account and ₹25,000 from his mother's account).
-
Protest continues in Pune against rebel Shiv Sena MLAs
For the second consecutive day, protests continued in Pune against rebel Shiv Sena MLAs currently camping in Guwahati, Assam. Shiv Sena workers, claiming to be loyalists of party president and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray staged 'jode maro' (hit with footwear) protests at two places in the city – outside Balgandharva auditorium and in Kothrud – and raised slogans against the rebels. They were led by the Pune city unit president Gajanan Tharkude.
-
U.P. sets new record, 16 crore people fully vaccinated against Covid: Govt
“Uttar Pradesh has achieved a major milestone by becoming the first state in India to fully vaccinate over 16 crore individuals,” the government said in a press statement on Sunday. Uttar Pradesh is followed by Maharashtra with 16.90 crore doses. The state is expected to cross 34-crore mark in total doses within this week, officials said.
-
Maha crisis: Sena initiates legal action against rebel MLAs, Shinde moves SC
Amid the ongoing political crisis in the Maharashtra government fuelled by minister Eknath Shinde's rebellion, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant said the party has initiated legal action and served notices to 16 rebel MLAs camping at a luxury hotel in BJP-ruled Assam. A day ago, 16 rebel MLAs, including Shinde, were issued a disqualification notice by the deputy speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly.
-
Lucknow NCB conducts cycle rally to spread awareness against drugs
Narcotics Control Bureau, Lucknow Zonal Unit on Sunday organised a mega cycle rally and other events to mark International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking. The chief guest administered an oath against drug abuse to all the participants. He also flagged off the cycle rally. The event saw the participation of various groups, including Lucknow Cycle Club, Robinhood Army, Lucknow Gazelles, Pedal Yatri, Shrijan Shakti Welfare Society, Nawabi Riders and others.