https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

This IPS Officer Eliminating Child Marriages Among Ignorant Tribals In Maharashtra’s Nandurbar

IPS officer PR Patil, currently SP Nadurbar, has launched a drive to stop child marriages
Indian Masterminds Stories

Ignorance is bliss but not always. Tribal-dominated Nandurbar district in Maharashtra is plagued with high number of child marriages as tribals aren’t aware of the law. Child marriages induces other plagues like lack of education, early motherhood and malnutrition. And at the root of all these problems is poverty, adding more misery to tribals’ life.

The situation hadn’t changed for so long that tribals had taken it as fait accompli. But, things are changing now at a fast pace as the current Superintendent of Police (SP), Mr. PR Patil has not only identified the malaise but also started administering a remedy.

NO RECORD

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, IPS officer Mr Patil said, “There are a lot of cases of malnutrition in Nandurbar. Main reason behind it is the rising number of child marriages in the district. It is impacting both on the health of the newborns and the young mothers.”

Covid induced lockdown spawned over 15,000 child marriages. But there is no complaint nor is there any record because no case was reported. Mr. Patil said, “People were not aware that child marriage is an illegal practice and therefore were happily marrying their daughters at a young age.”

Many tribals from the district migrate to Surat and Western Maharashtra for work in the sugarcane industry. Mr. Patil found many girls returning pregnant after migration. The trend was noticed after young girls were admitted to the hospital for delivery.

OPERATION AKSHATA

That’s why on the occasion of International Women’s Day this year, Mr Patil, launched Operation Akshata to tackle this situation. The officer said, “Once I was called upon in a get together of Asha workers where all issues were discussed in details. I got to know how they were so much connected with every household and knew each and every activity in the vicinity. We thought that they could play an important role in stopping child marriages.”

IPS officer PR Patil

Apart from the Asha workers, Mr. Patil has also mobilized social workers, police patils, sarpanches, nurses at primary health centres and police beat personnel. They were made aware that child marriage is illegal and all the sarpanches were made to take a vow to stop it. Mr. Patil said, “We used the police to bring those people around who didn’t listen to Asha workers.”

Police counselling people

Police patils along with the beat officer would first try and counsel the couple and if they still didn’t follow the instructions, legal actions will be taken. Awareness programs through NGOs and social workers are also being run. They are conducting workshops and counselling sessions to help the people understand how this practice affects the life of the young girl.

Those cooperating are being felicitated with a certificate and a bouquet by the police department to incentivize the movement. The movement has been started in Taloda taluka and will soon be replicated in the whole district.


Indian Masterminds Stories
Related Stories
NEWS
ips-officer Latest
16 IPS Officers from Various Cadres Set to Retire in March 2025, Check Names Here
CAG logo-resized
CAG Denies Conducting Audit on Vehicle Used by IAS Officer Smita Sabharwal, Sends Cautionary Letter to University
psuwatch_2024-11-04_ur2eppwp_NTPC-ONGC
ONGC NTPC Green Completes Ayana Acquisition for Rs 6,248.50 Crore
Power Grid
Power Grid Board Approves Rs 673-Crore Investment for Transformer Converter Purchase
750x450_859980-ddnhd
Amaraesh Pujari, IPS Officer Who Foretold Jayalalithaa’s Conviction, Retires
Leopard  Dogs
Fearless Dog Stares Down Leopard, Wins the Standoff in Viral Video
IREDA logo 1
IREDA Secures Rs 1,476 Crore ECB from SBI Tokyo to Boost Renewable Energy Funding
BHEL_resized
BHEL Secures EPC Contract for Supercritical Thermal Plant in Chhattisgarh
Videos
Sajjan Yadav, IAS
The Policy Maker Who Turned India’s Vaccine Story and UPSC Struggles into Bestsellers
WhatsApp Image 2025-03-21 at 14.33
Training The Cops In Mastering The Technology Used By Criminals
IAS Ayush Prasad
This IAS Officer Dreams of Making Jalgaon a $25 Billion Economy in Four Years
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Buveneswari S IAS
How Washim Became India’s Organic Chia Hub: The Visionary Leadership of IAS Officer Buveneswari S
WhatsApp Image 2025-03-29 at 12.29
Is Human Interference Destabilising Natural Equilibrium In Forests? 
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Sajjan Yadav, IAS
WhatsApp Image 2025-03-21 at 14.33
IAS Ayush Prasad
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT