Mysuru: Child pregnancy cases in Karnataka declined, but it remains a concern as hundreds of pregnancy cases are still reported in the state. However, preventing underage marriage remains a challenge for the authorities.Child development project officers (CDPO) attributed this to increased awareness and publicity of child helpline numbers in schools and colleges. Officers said children voluntarily called the helpline number to inform them about child marriages. According to data shared by women and child development minister Laxmi Hebbalkar in the legislative council, in reply to a query by Mysuru MLC D Thimmaiah about child marriages and child pregnancy, in the recently concluded session in Dec, Karnataka registered 14,641 cases of child pregnancy in the age group of 14 to 18 years between April 2023 and Oct 2025 (31 months). The minister said the data was as per the numbers mentioned in the reproductive and child health (RCH) portal. However, the number of child pregnancy cases sharply declined since April 2025. As many as 1,229 cases of child pregnancy were reported in Karnataka between April and Oct 2025, and the number declined by more than half in the last 2.5 years. In 2023-24, about 8,666 cases were registered, and in 2024-25, the number dropped to 4,746. This fiscal year, it further came down to 1,229, as per cases registered in the first 7 months. However, child marriage cases remain a challenge, as annually 700 cases on average, were registered in the last 3 years. About 564 cases were registered from Jan to Oct 2025 in the state, and about 2,000 marriages were prevented. The average number of complaints was more than 2,600 every year. CDPO, Mysuru, NT Yogesh, said that community awareness programmes, campaigns, and publicity of child helpline number 1098 helped in a big way to prevent child pregnancy and child marriages. As of Nov 2025, about 45 child pregnancy cases and 21 child marriage cases were reported in Mysuru district. About 230 child marriages were prevented in 2025 in Mysuru, and legal action was initiated against parents and relatives for conducting child marriages. In most cases, the age of children in child marriages was above 17 years of age, and a few were between 16 and 17 years of age. Efforts continue to create awareness about the punishment for conducting underage marriages, which is a 2-year jail term and a Rs 1 lakh fine. Mysuru district alone receives more than 1,000 calls on helpline numbers every year, and the reasons include informing about child marriages and pregnancy cases, seeking educational support, family support, and other reasons, including emotional support and counselling, explained CDPO Yogesh. RLHP, an NGO, director Saraswathi advised that sex education in schools is needed today, because students are strongly influenced by social media and online content. Recently, a residential school Class IX student gave birth inside the school’s toilet in Yadgir. Easy internet accessibility increases curiosity, but without guidance, children may learn misinformation from friends or through social media. Proper sex education helps them make proper decisions, as it explains the risks of early sexual activity. When students understand their rights and health, they are better protected from exploitation and pressure. Education also supports preventing child marriages by promoting awareness, she stated.
