Officials in Jharkhand have decided to intensify an awareness campaign among citizens to prevent early marriage and pregnancy after a 14-year-old girl gave birth to a baby in Khunti district. The girl was in a live-in relationship with a boy who is two years older than her.
According to PTI, the girl was living with the boy with the permission of her parents, following a tribal ritual. The District Child Protection Officer said that the girl delivered a baby girl in the Khunti district hospital.
“We have been carrying out awareness campaigns in association with NGOs and civil society organisations against child marriage and child labour. However, we will be intensifying it in each of the 86 gram panchayats in Khunti,” the officer told news agency PTI.
“We hope that comprehensive awareness by educating communities and minors-especially on health and mental issues, as well as the educational and societal consequences of early pregnancy-will dissuade the new generation from such practices,” the officer added.
