NHRC notice to the UP Chief Secretary and DM, Maharajganj over allegations of more than 70 percent child marriages.
New Delhi, 3rd June, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that Maharajganj District of Uttar Pradesh is one of the most undesired places for girls to live in inasmuch as 73.6 percent of females here are married before the age of eighteen years and the female literacy rate is mere 28 percent. The report says that one can find a child bride in almost every second home in various villages in the District and, particularly, in Village Pahuni and adjoining areas near Indo-Nepal border.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of empowerment of the marginalized section of the Society, especially women in District Maharajganj. Accordingly, notices have been issued to the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh and District Magistrate, Maharajganj calling for reports in the matter within six weeks.
They have also been given the following directions:
(i) Conduct a survey in at least 8-10 villages near Indo-Nepal border in District Maharajganj to find out whether the allegations of child brides made in the report are true or not;
(ii) Inform the Commission about the steps taken by the Administration to prevent child marriages and empowering the marginalized section of population, especially women of the area.
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The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that Maharajganj District of Uttar Pradesh is one of the most undesired places for girls to live in inasmuch as 73.6 percent of females here are married before the age of eighteen years and the female literacy rate is mere 28 percent. The report says that one can find a child bride in almost every second home in various villages in the District and, particularly, in Village Pahuni and adjoining areas near Indo-Nepal border.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the press report, if true, raise a serious issue of empowerment of the marginalized section of the Society, especially women in District Maharajganj. Accordingly, notices have been issued to the Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh and District Magistrate, Maharajganj calling for reports in the matter within six weeks.
They have also been given the following directions:
(i) Conduct a survey in at least 8-10 villages near Indo-Nepal border in District Maharajganj to find out whether the allegations of child brides made in the report are true or not;
(ii) Inform the Commission about the steps taken by the Administration to prevent child marriages and empowering the marginalized section of population, especially women of the area.
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