Child marriages surge in Tamil Nadu: Need for action and accountability

Information obtained through the Right to Information Act has revealed shocking data of 1,054 child marriages that took place in 2023 and 1,640 in 2024. It has been reported that the number of child marriages is particularly high in 6 districts - Erode, Tirunelveli, Perambalur, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Namakkal.
These statistics highlight the need for the Tamil Nadu government to actively implement awareness campaigns and legal measures to stop child marriages.
Tamilnadu Commission for Protection of Child Rights which is supposed to monitor child marriages is paralyzed without a chairman. Due to this, there is a possibility among the officials to show laxity in fulfilling their duties. Therefore, a chairman post should be filled by the Children's Commission immediately.
Apart from raising awareness against child marriage, the current need is for the Tamil Nadu government to take serious action in legal proceedings like arrests. Only unrelenting legal action can provide a solution to such social problems!
The continued increase in child marriages in Tamil Nadu is distressing and no one can deny that it must be stopped.