Sambalpur: Major Mistake by Sambalpur District Administration; RTI Reveals a Minor Girl Was Married Off
Shocking RTI Revelation
Sambalpur: In 2023, district officials conducted an “ideal marriage” for an orphan girl, but RTI records now reveal that she was still a minor at the time. This raises serious questions about how the administration allowed underage marriage.
Marriage Conducted Under Official Supervision
On August 27, 2023, in the presence of senior district officials, the orphan girl was married to a young man from Barpali following traditional Vedic rituals. She has since given birth to a child. However, RTI documents confirm that she was only 15 years old at the time of marriage.
Age Discrepancy Exposed
Records from the Nodal UPS School where the girl studied state her date of birth as December 10, 2008. This means that when she was married in 2023, she was only 15 years old. Without providing any clear reason, authorities transferred her from Rukmini Lath Bal Niketan to the Dhankauda childcare center before arranging the marriage.
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Questions on Legality and Ethics
This case raises many critical questions about the actions of the authorities. Why was the minor girl relocated before her marriage? What justified conducting a wedding in a childcare center? Did officials deliberately tamper with her birth records to legalize the marriage? Reports suggest that an official may have manipulated her Aadhaar card details to cover up her real age, further deepening concerns about administrative misconduct.
Denial of Government Benefits
Since she is still legally a minor, she has been unable to receive benefits under the ‘Mamata’ maternity scheme after giving birth.
Action Requested from Authorities
The matter has now been forwarded to the Chief Minister and the Women and Child Welfare Department for investigation and necessary action.
