Districts of Bengaluru, Belagavi and Vijaypur lead the list

Coastal regions Udupi and Mangaluru reported lower numbers

56,000 dedicated officials fail to prevent child marriages

Bengaluru has recorded the highest incidence of underage pregnancies in Karnataka, according to the Karnataka State Children Rights Protection Commission, with a total of 28,657 reported cases across the state.

The districts of Bengaluru, Belagavi, and Vijaypur lead the list, accounting for 2,815, 2,754, and 2,004 cases, respectively, from January to November 2023. In contrast, coastal regions like Udupi and Mangaluru, known for their educated population, reported lower numbers with 56 and 135 underage pregnancies, respectively.

Despite the state’s deployment of over 56,000 officials dedicated to preventing child marriages, the commission criticized the health and family welfare department for not taking effective action to curb this issue. The prevalence of prohibited child marriages persists, contributing to the alarming surge in underage pregnancies.

Data from the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal revealed a regional disparity, with the northern part of the state reporting up to 70% more underage pregnant women than the southern regions.

Poverty is identified as a significant factor driving child marriages in the northern region, as parents resort to early weddings to avoid responsibilities, consequently leading to pregnancies at a young age.