Hyd teenage couple wants to study after parents ‘forcefully’ hosted wedding

The case of wedding of a minor couple in Hyderabad has caused widespread outrage.

Hyderabad, Feb 6: At a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promoting his pet social campaign--Beti Bachao Beti Padhao--a Hyderabad teenage girl was married off to another teenage boy last week.

The child marriage case has caused a lot of outrage among child rights activists as the 'wedding' is illegal. In India, a girl can legally get married at the age of 18 and boy at 21.

According to a news report by NDTV, both the boy, 15, and girl, 13, want to continue their studies. Both of them were attending school till last week, when their respective parents forcefully conducted their wedding.

After the news came to light, the children were moved to child protection homes and a case has been booked under the Prevention of Child Marriage Act. The parents insist that they followed their 'Hindu tradition' by marrying off their children.

Achyuta Rao, child rights commission member, told NDTV it was not because of poverty, but superstition. "The girl is not even mature, but they believe superstitiously it will bring them prosperity," he said.

In India, child marriage is still a reality and thousands of girls get married before they attend the legal age.

OneIndia News