Hyderabad: The inability of the parents of a 15-year-old girl to pay the house rent, and their generally poor condition, forced her into a marriage with a 38-year-old man who is totally disabled.
The girl who scored 8.5 GPA in the recent SSC examinations was married to Ramesh Gupta, the son of their landlord. Her mother claimed that as they were not able to pay the house rent regularly, Ramesh’s parents forced them to give their elder daughter in marriage.
“As my husband is working for a daily wage and earning very little and we had the education of our three kids to see to, we forced my child into this evil. They assured us that they will take care of her education in future,” the mother said.
The girl said that she did not want to get married but wanted to study further and help her parents. She thought of approaching the police, but was intimidated.
Based on a tip off, Rangareddy Childline team along with the Mailardevpally police rescued the girl, but they could do so only after the marriage ceremony was completed.
They shifted her to a care home on the orders of the Child Welfare Committee. A case has been booked against Ramesh Gupta and his parents for marrying an underage bride.
The girl's parents are from Odisha and migrated to the city around 20 years ago. They have been tenants of Ramesh Gutpa for five years at Padmashalipuram basthi along with their two daughters and a son. While the girl's father worked for daily wages, her mother looked after the home.
When they failed to pay rent on time Ramesh's parents helped on some occasions financially but unpaid rent and loans multiplied and became a huge sum.
Ramesh works as a motor winding mechanic and cannot move without help. A normal marriage was out of the question and thus this quid pro quo.
“Unable to pay back the money and with no other option left, the girl's mother gave in to their demand and agreed to the marriage. Though the marriage ceremony was completed, we could rescue the girl. A case under sections 10, 11 and 12b of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act has been booked,” said Mailardevpally Inspector P Jagadeeshwar.
