Child marriage helpline now handling teens’ threats of running away

Indore: Child marriage prevention officials in Indore are confronting an unexpected challenge, teenagers threatening to run away from home, enter live-in relationships or take drastic steps when families stop them from marrying before the legal age.

What was once largely an enforcement exercise has increasingly become a crisis intervention service with the district’s child marriage prevention helpline receiving distress calls from both parents and minors caught in emotionally charged situations.

Officials say they have counselled at least four such cases in recent months, signalling a worrying shift in the nature of child marriage prevention efforts.

“In these cases, the issue is no longer just stopping a child marriage. We often find ourselves handling situations where minors threaten to leave home or harm themselves if their demands are not met,” said Mahendra Pathak, in-charge of the district’s child marriage prevention flying squad.

The women and child development department has deployed specialised flying squads to intervene in such cases.

According to officials, many of the cases involve teenage boys and girls who became friends through social media or local networks and then began pressuring their families to allow them to marry despite being underage.

In some cases, parents themselves have approached the helpline fearing their children would leave home. In others, officials say teenagers have argued that they would rather live together than wait until they become legally eligible for marriage.

One such case emerged from Rangwasa village, a 15-year-old girl who befriended a boy on social media began pressuring her family to arrange their marriage. Her father approached the helpline, following which officials counselled the girl and her family.

In another case in Pardeshipura, a 17-year-old boy threatened to leave home after his family opposed his plan to marry a minor girl. Officials later found that the boy had dropped out of school, while the girl was still studying.

After multiple rounds of counselling on the legal, educational and health consequences of child marriage, the teenagers agreed to postpone their plans.

To prevent minors from eloping, Anganwadi workers have been directed to conduct regular home visits, while officials maintain contact with both families. Awareness campaigns are also being conducted in schools, colleges and police stations in collaboration with Indore Police.