Raise awareness on child marriages among girls:DC

District Collector K. Vetri Selvi has stressed the importance of creating awareness among girl students about the harmful effects of child marriages. She urged the public to take active steps to curb this practice. The Collector was speaking at a meeting of the ‘Mission Vatsalya’ held on Thursday.
In her address, Collector Vetri Selvi highlighted the need to expand the use of the 1098 toll-free helpline across the district, so that information on child marriages can be easily reported. She emphasized that every citizen should be vigilant and contribute to eradicating child marriages. Displaying the 1098 helpline number in all public spaces is crucial, she directed the officials.
“Through ‘Mission Vatsalya’, the government ensures protection for all children under 18 who are in need of shelter and care, helping them build a bright future. It’s vital for children to enjoy their childhood and not fall prey to social issues like child marriages, school dropouts, child labour, migration, and begging,” said the Collector. She further added that children should only be admitted to care centres after obtaining proper permission from the concerned department, following the rules set by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR).
The Collector also noted that any unlicensed or unregistered care centres must be reported to the relevant authorities immediately. She emphasised the need to create a supportive environment for victims of sexual abuse, providing financial support through victim compensation and counselling to help them recover and build a better future.
Collector Vetri Selvi also advocated for counselling family members and ensuring that strict punishments are imposed on offenders under the POCSO Act, without any compromise. She directed the police and Women and Child Welfare departments to work together to ensure swift justice in such cases.
District Legal Services Authority Secretary, K. Ratna Prasad, spoke about improving facilities in girls’ hostels and elaborated on the victim compensation process. He also stated that, as per the Juvenile Justice Care and Protection of Children Act, each police station should have a designated Child Welfare Police Officer to handle child-related cases.
Women and Child Welfare Empowerment Officer K.L.V. Padmavati, DSP D. Sravan Kumar, LDM D. Neeladri, and District Prohibition Officer Durga Prasad were also present at the meeting.