The Covid-19 pandemic has had an adverse repercussion on the lives of hundreds of teenage girls across Maharashtra. Data from the state’s women and child development (WCD) department has revealed that child marriages in the state have increased by 78.3% until September this year as compared to the same period in 2019.
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“Though farmers are poor, they spend most of their savings on marrying off their daughters as per social demands. As it became less expensive [owing to the cap on members who can participate in gatherings], farmers are taking advantage of it,” said Sudhir Tupe from non-governmental organisation (NGO) Lokkalyan Charitable Trust in Satara district. He also works with Childline, a pan-India NGO that works for the welfare of children.
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“Due to the fear of spreading the infection, the central government has instructed to close down orphanages. Thus, we had to hand over the girls to their distant relatives who often consider them as unwanted. To shy away from their duties, they are marrying off the girls discreetly,” he said.
