Maharashtra: More than 15 thousand minor girls became pregnant in three years, cases increased in 16 tribal districts

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Shocking cases of child marriage have come to the fore in Maharashtra. More than 15,000 minor girls have become pregnant in the last three years in the tribal districts of the state. Women and Child Development Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha shared this information in the Legislative Council on Tuesday. He said that according to the information collected, 15,253 adolescent girls have become mothers in the last three years in 16 tribal-dominated districts of the state.

The minister was replying to a question on child marriage in the Lodha Legislative Council. Lodha said in a written reply that according to the figures that have come out, the department has formed a three-member committee to gather information about it. Asked whether over 15,000 child marriages have been reported in the state in the last three years and whether 10 per cent of these have been prevented. To this, Lodha said in his written reply that this is partially true.

Child marriage part of tradition of some tribes: Lodha

Mangal Prabhat Lodha said that child marriage is a part of tradition in some tribes. Hence it becomes difficult to identify such cases. He acknowledged that according to the National Family Health Survey, Maharashtra has a higher incidence of child marriage than Kerala. Between 2019 and 2021, 152 criminal cases have been registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, of which 136 are in court.