Odisha has over 65,000 minor mothers; over 6000 of them under 15!

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Apr 10:

It sounds incredible, but is true nonetheless; Odisha has more than 50,000 minor mothers according to the Directorate of Census Operations.

As per the report released by the Directorate here on Thursday, marriage of 41,729 minor girls have been solemnised while 6,789 girls have become the mother of two children before attaining the age of 15.

Contrary to the rule specifying the marriage of girls after 18 years, 2,90,089 girls of 15-19 years of age have married in the state of which 65,328 have become the mother of at least one child.

Besides, 12,270 girls have become the mother of two children, while 4,496 girls and 5,569 girls have become the mother of three and four children respectively before attaining 19 years, the report said.

The report has also revealed that about 5,40,000 women and about 14 lakh women in Odisha are mothers of seven and four children respectively.

As per 2011 Census report, out of a total of 2,07, 62,082 women, 1,19,92,000 are married of which 12.23 percent women have four children, 7.13 percent have five children and 4.56 percent have more than seven children.

The report has also stated that 4661 women have become the mother of seven children and 1,65,000 women have become the mother of four children before attaining the age of 24!

Besides, 25,134 women above 80 years are childless while the total number of childless women in the state is 17, 11,258, the report added.