With the festival of Akshaya Tritiya on the horizon, concerns over an uptick in child marriages have prompted heightened vigilance from the district administration and police in Jodhpur. Recognizing the historical correlation between the festival and instances of child marriages, authorities have launched a comprehensive awareness campaign to deter such practices. Under the directive of Jodhpur Range Inspector General Vikas Kumar, Superintendents of Police (SPs) across the region are on high alert within their respective jurisdictions. Notably, Jodhpur Rural SP Dharmendra Singh Yadav is closely monitoring the situation in his district, ensuring proactive measures are in place.

This year, auspicious timings for marriages are scarce due to the positioning of Venus and Jupiter during Akshaya Tritiya. However, the absence of favorable astrological configurations does not diminish the risk of child marriages, particularly in rural areas of Jodhpur. To address this concern, the District Collector has established a dedicated control room, equipped with a hotline for reporting instances of child marriages. Additionally, stringent guidelines have been issued to all relevant officials, emphasizing the imperative of preventing child marriages and facilitating prompt intervention.

District Collector Gaurav Aggarwal has invoked Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973 to enforce compliance with regulations aimed at curbing child marriages. Printing presses have been mandated to include the date of birth of the bride and groom on wedding invitation cards, with copies to be furnished to the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and other government authorities for verification. Furthermore, mass marriage organizers are required to submit comprehensive information regarding the couples' dates of birth to the authorities seven days prior to the event.

To bolster enforcement efforts, control rooms have been established at various levels, including district, sub-divisional, and police station levels. Superintendent of Police Jodhpur Rural and Deputy Commissioners of Police (East and West) have instructed the activation of control rooms round-the-clock, ensuring rapid response capabilities to address any reported incidents of child marriages.

As Akshaya Tritiya approaches, the concerted efforts of authorities underscore a commitment to safeguarding the rights and well-being of children, reinforcing the message that child marriage is not only unlawful but also detrimental to the health and future prospects of young individuals.