Govt: wants to end child marriage and eradicate Devadasi system-CM

Mudhol, Karnataka, Jan 24 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today said that the state government has determined to put an end to the child marriage in the name of Devadasi system, which was creating serious social problems like spreading of dreaded AIDS disease.

Speaking at a public meeting at Ingalgi village, where he in a unique guesture, spent a night in the home of a young HIV affected couple, he said that under Devadasi system girl child were married at tender age to temple priest and they were forced into flesh trade by middlemen, Government would take strong action against those initiate mass child marriages, he added.

Meanwhile, festive atmosphere prevailed in the village, six km from this twon in Bagalkot district even as the Chief Minister arrived past midnight. Hew went straight to the home of Rudraiah matapathi (26) and his wife Shobha (20), both of whom had been tested HIV positive. He sat in the modest two-room house and spoke at lenght to the couple and the parents of Rudraiah. He later slept on a bed laid on the floor of the house. The Chief Minister, who had regularly stayed in poor homes in remote villages to study the problem of the rural flok earlier, had readily accepted the invitation sent by a Village health Committee of this district seeking the Chief Minister to stay in a house belonging to HIV positive case to give them moral support.

Karnataka health Promotion Trust which is in forefront in creating awareness against HIV/AIDS and working for rehabilitation of Devadasis had identified Ingalgi village for the Chief Minister's night stay.

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