Shivamogga, Aug. 8 -- : The detection of 23 child pregnancies in Shivamogga district has triggered concern over child marriages, prompting District Collector Prabhulinga Kavalikatti to order intensified surveillance of school dropouts, girls frequently absent from schools and colleges and families vulnerable to child marriage.
Presiding over a coordination meeting of the Women and Child Development Department and the quarterly meeting of the District Child Protection Unit here, the Collector directed officials to act proactively to prevent child marriages and register FIRs against those who encourage, facilitate or assist such marriages.
District Child Protection Unit Officer Manjunath said 79 cases, including 61 POCSO cases and 18 cases ...