Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Kurnool Girls Urged to Reject Child Marriage, Pursue Education
A programme was held for girls at a school in Kurnool.
It taught them about health, safety, and their legal rights.
The speaker said marriage before age 18 is a child marriage.
Early marriage can harm education, health, and future opportunities.
Girls were told to call 1098 if someone pressures them to marry.
The programme also discussed cervical cancer vaccination.
Another speaker advised students to eat safely and protect their teeth.
Teachers and school staff helped conduct the event.
An awareness programme on teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and adolescent health was held at a government girls’ school in Kurnool.
RKSK consultant Mallikarjuna said marriages involving girls under 18 are legally defined as child marriages.
Students were urged to report pressure or coercion related to child marriage through Child Helpline number 1098.
The session highlighted preventive healthcare, including cervical cancer vaccination for adolescent girls.
Students were advised to avoid junk food, carbonated drinks, ready-made chips, and excessive fluoride exposure.
- Who
- Students of the Government Girls’ High School near Pedda Market, RKSK consultant Mallikarjuna, Fluorosis Consultant Sudhakar, teachers, and school staff.
- What
- An awareness programme addressed teenage pregnancy, child marriage, adolescent health, nutrition, food safety, and oral hygiene.
- When
- Monday.
- Where
- Government Girls’ High School near Pedda Market in Kurnool city.
- Why
- To provide adolescent girls with information about their health, legal rights, well-being, and protection from child marriage.
- Programme focus
- Prevention of teenage pregnancy and child marriage, and promotion of adolescent health
- Organized under
- Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK)
- Legal age referenced
- Marriages involving girls under 18 are legally defined as child marriages
- Reporting helpline
- Child Helpline: 1098
- Health advice
- Adolescent girls were encouraged to consider vaccination against cervical cancer
- Nutrition advice
- Students were warned about regular consumption of packaged junk food, carbonated soft drinks, and ready-made chips
- Fluoride advice
- Students were advised to be cautious about high-fluoride toothpaste and fluoride-heavy food items