18' tells her story of saying no' to child marriage

KOZHIKODE: A 16-year old who escaped child marriage in Malappuram has become the poster girl of the campaign against the menace. The social justice department's 18-minute short film 18 based on her true story gives a strong message against teen marriages. It happened in March 2015 in Manjeri. A plus-one girl came alone to the police station and informed sub-inspector Vishnu that her marriage was fixed and pleaded help. A shocked SI alerted the district child welfare committee and SJ department. They contacted the groom’s parents and convinced them about its legal repercussions.

Authorities were overwhelmed that a potential victim herself had come up against the evil practice, that too in Malappuram, where child marriages are rampant. “The determination of the girl was incredible,” said Samir Machingal, Malappuram district child protection officer (DCPO). “Through the film, we want to highlight that even a minor can fearlessly seek police help in distress. Many who take part in child marriages did not know that along with the organisers they too were complicit in the crime.” The CD of the short film will be released by SJ minister K.K. Shylaja on National Girls’ day on January 24 in Thiruvananthapuram and will be shown to students across the state.

As per the report of child marriage prohibition officers (CMPO), they were tipped off about 120 child marriages in Malappuram in 2016 and thwarted 109 of them. They include 26 cases aborted through interim court injunctions. As per the Child Marriage Prohibition Act 2006, those who take part in child marriages could end up two years in jail along with a fine of Rs 1 lakh. The girl’s courage grabbed the attention of the district police chief Debesh Kumar Behera, and he suggested making a documentary. The film was made by the department of journalism and audiovisual communications at Little Flower Institute of Social Sciences and Health (LISSAH), Thamarassery. Tanya Punnakkal, a student at Govt. Boy’s HSS Manjeri, plays the protagonist in the film directed by M. Sabarish.