Three destitute girls enter wedlock in Govt dept

Mysore, Mar 29 (UNI) Marriages may be made in heaven, but it was solemnised at a Government department for three destitute girls, sheltered at Sthree Sevaniketana in the city.

Organised by the Department of Women and Child Welfare, the three girls entered into wedlock at Rishi Samskrithi Vidya Kendra yesterday.

Gowramma, preparing to write second PUC examinations, had joined Sthree Sevaniketana in 1991 after she lost her parents when she was barely eight. She married a farmer Manjunath of Munuruplu Haralne village in Chikmagalur district. While Sangeetha tied the knot with Jayanth, a wireman, Deepa tied the nuptial knot with LIC agent Sridhar Ganesh Hegde of Balagani Siddapura taluk in Uttara Kannada district. Sangeetha and Deepa had also joined the institution at an early age.

Sthree Sevaniketana was founded in 1958 to shelter orphans, destitutes, widows and victims of atrocities. In the last seven to eight years, it had celebrated the marriage of 30 girls.

Sthree Sevaniketana Deputy Director Vimala said a report would be prepared about the antecedents of the girls with their consent. Age, income, proof of residence, medical certificate and HIV particulars would be part of the report, based on which steps would be initiated for marriage.

She said the institution would track the married girls for five years. Every three months, officials from the department would visit the girl's family and submit a report to the institution. The department would provide Rs 5,000 worth savings certificate to the married girls, she added.

UNI