A new project by the Kerala government 'Ponvakk' will provide incentives to people who help the authorities to prevent child marriages. The new government order states that people can provide tip-offs to the Women and Child Development Department.
The project involves providing tips to the informer. If a person calls in a tip before the marriage takes place, they will be rewarded Rs 2,500. The state government has already sanctioned Rs. 5 lakh to the District Women and Child Development officers for this year, reported The News Minute.
As per the data provided by the Kerala police department, 21 cases of child marriage were registered in Kerala in the last two years. Reports from 2019 show that over 260 complaints against child marriages were received in the state. Several such ceremonies were stopped with the involvement of childline and other welfare organisations.
The government order has assured that the informer's identity will remain anonymous. The money will be handed over in person, not through a bank account.
People's representatives and local self-government institutions will receive orders pertaining to the Ponvakk project from 258 child marriage prohibition officers assigned to it. The contact information of the concerned authorities will be displayed outside anganwadis.