Despite Kerala's high literacy rate, child marriage continues to be a pressing problem and the state government is actively combating this social issue through ‘Project Ponvakku’, an initiative aimed at protecting children from the clutches of early marriage.
Published Jan 24, 2025 | 12:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 24, 2025 | 12:00 PM
In the past three years, Project Ponvakk (Golden Word) has successfully prevented 29 child marriages in Kerala.
The tragic death of 19-year-old Shahana Mumtaz in Kondotty has once again thrown a spotlight on the persistent issue of child marriage in Kerala.
She was found hanging at her home. Shahana’s death by suicide is linked to mental abuse and humiliation from her husband, including constant criticism of her appearance and inability to speak English.
Even though Shahana’s marriage was legally permissible due to her age, it underscores the risks and harmful consequences of making women marry at a young age.
Despite Kerala’s high literacy rate, child marriage among girls continues to be a pressing problem and the state government is actively combating this social issue through ‘Project Ponvakku’, an initiative aimed at protecting children from the clutches of early marriage.
The ongoing efforts of this project seek to ensure that young girls like Shahana are allowed to pursue their education and a life free from such pressures, with the ultimate goal of creating a child marriage-free Kerala.
Ponnvakku, translating to “golden word,” embodies the transformative power of a single piece of information in preventing the harmful practice of child marriage.
The Women and Child Development (WCD) Department in Kerala has launched this innovative, incentive-based initiative to enlist public support in eradicating child marriage, a deep-rooted issue that persists despite efforts by the 258 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers appointed across the state.
The Ponnvakku initiative aims to reward individuals who provide timely and actionable information about planned child marriages. Whistleblowers who step forward with credible details will receive an incentive of ₹2,500.
To encourage participation, strict measures are in place to protect the identity of informants, ensuring complete anonymity and safeguarding their personal details from being disclosed or misused.
Informants can contact either the Child Marriage Prohibition Officers at the block level or the WCD department officials at the district level.
Information can be shared through phone calls or by emailing ponvakkuwcd@gmail.com. To aid investigations, the report should include the names and addresses of the children involved, their parents or guardians, or any other identification details.
Informants will be awarded incentives if they provide information ahead of the marriage. Reports made after the ceremony will not qualify for the incentives.
If multiple individuals report the same case, the reward will go to the first person who contacted the authorities. Even anonymous tips will be investigated thoroughly. However, incentives cannot be granted to anonymous informants due to the lack of contact details for reward distribution.
Verified informants will receive the ₹2,500 reward via money order or bank transfer. The process ensures transparency and confidentiality, reinforcing public trust in the initiative.
The WCD department believes that the fight against child marriage cannot be won without the active involvement of society. By joining hands through Ponnvakku, every citizen has the power to contribute to a brighter, safer future for children in Kerala.
The state government aims to ensure that the voice of the people becomes the golden word that protects children from a lifetime of hardship.
In the last three years, authorities in Kerala successfully helped 29 girls from child marriages through the initiative of Project Ponvakku, and a total of ₹72,500 was distributed as a reward for these efforts. The initiative has seen a steady decline in cases year by year, reflecting the growing awareness and effectiveness of stricter laws and increased reporting.
From 2021 to 2024, the Malappuram district emerged as a hotspot, with a total of 11 child marriages stopped, making it the district with the highest number of reported cases.
In contrast, districts such as Kottayam, Ernakulam, Kannur, and Kasaragod have reported zero cases in the same period, highlighting a significant geographical shift in the prevalence of child marriage.
The breakdown of marriages stopped and corresponding rewards in various districts are as follows:
The decline in the number of child marriage cases has been attributed to stricter enforcement of the law, increased awareness, and the instances of the rising number of individuals coming forward to report such incidents.
The women and child development officials have emphasised that while the decrease in cases is encouraging, vigilance against child marriage remains a priority, especially in regions like Malappuram.
Shajitha, the District Child Protection Officer and Child Marriage Prohibition Officer in Malappuram, told South First, “We have the authority to seek an injunction order from the court to prevent child marriages and to inform the police as well. We often receive leads from Ponvakku, Kudumbashree workers, and ASHA workers [Accredited Social Health Activists].”
She highlighted that sometimes they receive information as late as the previous day of scheduled marriages.
“If a marriage is scheduled for the next day, we must act quickly, often facing strong protests from families. Even now, in Malappuram, 16- and 17-year-old girls are being forced into marriage. In some cases, children themselves tend to marry due to love affairs and similar situations,” she said.
Shajitha noted that such incidents are most common in the Muslim community, even though cases from tribal areas are also reported.
“However, significant changes have occurred due to awareness programs, with even mosques now taking responsibility and acting conscientiously,” she said.
When asked about her personal experiences, Shajitha shared, “A decade ago, people in rural areas used to call me ‘Kalyanam Mudakki,’ meaning the one who spoils or stops marriages.”
“We often get information from school students who help save their friends, and in some cases, the brides themselves report to us. When we conduct inquiries, we go with the police, seeking details from neighbours and others. This not only helps prevent the marriage but also sends a strong message that such actions are illegal and can be challenged,” she said.
“Over the years, Malappuram has witnessed drastic changes, but there is still more to be done. Our ultimate goal is to make Kerala a child marriage-free state.”
“Also, In a landmark decision, the Kerala High Court emphasised that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 overrides Muslim personal law, asserting its applicability to all citizens regardless of their religious affiliations,” she added.
Justice PV Kunhikrishnan, while rejecting a plea to annul legal proceedings against individuals accused of facilitating child marriage, remarked that the Act unequivocally prohibits child marriages and takes precedence over personal laws. He further stated that every individual in the country is bound by the laws of the land, reinforcing that citizenship transcends religious identity in such matters.
Mini Bhaskar S, Registrar of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, spoke to South First about the grave nature of child marriages.
“Child marriages are extreme cruelty to children. While we often receive calls reporting such cases, these matters primarily fall under the jurisdiction of the Women and Child Directorate,” Mini said.
“However, we intervene in specific instances by reporting them to the Child Welfare Committee [CWC] to enforce the POCSO [Protection of Children from Sexual Offences]Act. Our commission also collaborates with the Women and Child Directorate on awareness campaigns addressing issues like child marriage and child labour,” she said.
She further highlighted the ongoing efforts: “Currently, the ‘Good Parenting’ campaign is being conducted in every ward across Kerala. With increased budgetary allocation for such initiatives, we can achieve our goals more effectively and swiftly,” she added.
Good Parenting initiative is part of Kerala’s broader effort to strengthen the partnership between parents, schools, and students, promoting well-rounded development.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
