Recently, 47,000 tent dealers in Rajasthan united against child marriages. They will refuse to provide tents to anyone planning a child marriage…
They call themselves Rajasthan Tent Dealers Kiraya Vyavsai Samiti, and they are hoping to expose child marriages.
The way they make certain that they are not supporting any child marriage is that they are insisting that parents provide the birth certificates of the bride and groom. If the dealers suspect that children are being married, they have agreed to immediately contact the nearest police department to the village or city where the wedding may be held.
Prior to Akha Teej during last week of April and first week of May, there has been a tendency of people living in the villages and hamlets to marry off their children. Despite many laws and legislations, these marriages are happening. In the districts, including Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Churu and others, the child marriages are rampant before the Akha Teej festival which is considered auspicious to solemnize such weddings.
A meeting of the group was held on Friday encouraging the dealers across the state to refuse renting tents if a child is involved.
Ravi Jindal is president of the Tent Dealers and said, “When anyone will come to book us to supply the tent and do other decorations, we will ask for the birth certificate of the boy and girl to ensure it is not child marriage. In case a person or group of persons gives us wrong information, we will immediately inform the nearby police and other government officials for the required intervention.”
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