By IANS
Jaipur : Under the pretext of a community meeting, nearly 50 child marriages were solemnised in a grand ceremony – witnessed by thousands of people from the Gujjar community – in Ajmer city in Rajasthan, local media reported Friday.
The incident took place Thursday, when people from 52 villages came together allegedly to demand tribal status for their community.
All customs related to Hindu marriage were performed with grand celebration and gaiety, but the administration came to know about it only when pictures were splashed in local dailies Friday.
“If allegations are confirmed, stringent action would be taken against those who are responsible for the event,” Naveen Mahajan, the collector of Ajmer told IANS.
“Additional District Collector has been asked to investigate the matter and submit a report by Monday.”
The event has caused concern to social activists who alleged that despite tall claims by the government of reducing child marriages, the age-old custom is still practised in the state.
“Though there are laws in place to stop it, no necessary steps are being taken to prevent this evil practice,” alleged Namita, a social worker.
A majority of child marriages reportedly take place in the rural areas of Jaipur, Alwar, Tonk, Sawai Madhopur, Bundi, Kota, Ajmer and tribal belt of Udaipur division.
“Though Rajasthan has taken a big leap forward in female literacy from 20 percent in 1991 to over 44 percent in 2001, a lot needs to be done still as it is these practices that do not allow female literacy to go up,” said Vinita, an activist with a local NGO.