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UP teen calls child helpline to stop her marriage to 25-yr-old Saudi Arabia-based man

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

Following a direct report to the 1098 emergency line, District Probation Officer Amarendra Kumar Pautsayan mobilized a joint team comprising welfare officials, local police, and an NGO. During the village intervention, the girl's father claimed his disability and severe financial distress had prompted the arrangement, while her mother works in a local factory. After extensive legal counseling regarding the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, both parties signed undertakings prohibiting any marriage before the girl reaches adulthood.

Key points

  • Direct distress calls to emergency helplines enable authorities to rapidly intervene and…: Direct distress calls to emergency helplines enable authorities to rapidly intervene and stop illegal child marriages.
  • Families cited disability, financial hardship, and fear of social embarrassment as primar…: Families cited disability, financial hardship, and fear of social embarrassment as primary drivers for the union.
  • Formal legal undertakings secured by officials now protect the teenager's right to pursue…: Formal legal undertakings secured by officials now protect the teenager's right to pursue her educational goals.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

LUCKNOW: A 16-year-old girl in Ballia district prevented her own child marriage by calling the Child Helpline (1098) after learning that her family had arranged her wedding with a 25-year-old man working in Saudi Arabia.

The incident occurred in a village under Bairia area, where the marriage was scheduled for Thursday.

On Tuesday, the girl, contacted the helpline, informing officials that she was underage and her wedding was approaching.

Acting on her complaint, district probation officer Amarendra Kumar Pautsayan constituted a team comprising officials of the women and child development department and representatives of Navbharti Nari Vikas Samiti.

With assistance from Suremanpur police, the team reached the village and intervened.

During counselling, the girl's father cited financial difficulties and his disability as reasons for arranging the marriage. Her mother works at a nearby factory.

While her parents agreed to cancel the wedding, the groom's family initially resisted, citing distributed invitations and social embarrassment.

Following counselling about legal consequences under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, both families agreed to cancel the wedding and signed undertakings against marrying her before the…

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