Most unwed mothers in tribal Orissa below 18

The New Indian Express, Wednesday March 28 2007 12:59 IST
IANS

NEW DELHI: Nearly 53 percent of unwed mothers in tribal Orissa are below the age of 18, says a study by an NGO.

Though there is no exact data with the government regarding the number of unwed mothers, experts believe that Orissa is home to 10,000 such women, of which over 70 percent belong to the 11 tribal dominated districts.

“Poverty, coupled with ignorance and innocence, compound the problem of unwed mothers in tribal Orissa. Nearly 53 percent of surveyed unwed mothers are below the legal marriageable age. It's shocking and unfortunate,” Amrendra Kishore, executive director, Indian National Trust for the Welfare of Tribals (INTWOT), told IANS.

According to a sample survey by INTWOT, an NGO working in tribal Orissa, 103 unwed mothers of the 216 surveyed were between 14 and 18 years old and another 11 were between nine and 14 years.

The survey also found that among the tribal districts, Kalahandi accounts for 57 cases (27 percent) and Phulbani reported 47 cases (22 percent).

Interestingly, the areas where primary health and education are still a far cry, sex stimulant drugs and blue films are easily available in grocery shops.

“Their easy availability is adding fuel to the fire. These teenagers are enticed into watching them with gifts, cosmetics and food items like mutton and chicken, which otherwise cost nearly twice the daily wages they earn.

“Deprived of worldly pleasures, these immature girls get easily trapped, and since sex is not a taboo in tribal communities they get physically involved,” said Kishore. He added: “Is the value of a girl less than a kilo of chicken?”

However, police said tribal people never come forward to report such illegal cases and it compounds their problem.

“We have registered 10 cases of unwed mothers in 2006. Of these seven are charge-sheeted and three are pending, including the case of Hema Rana, a 15-year-old mother of a baby girl,” said Kalahandi Superintendent of Police S C Chauoupattanaik.

Giving Hema Rana's example as a model, Chauoupattanaik said her father reported the case too late. “Sadhu Rana reported the case late to the police as they were involved in getting the case adjudicated in the village. The father wanted to marry off Hema to the boy involved.

“The department is trying its level best but the whereabouts of the boy are yet to be ascertained.”

Hema Rana is a resident of village Jampadar of Kalahandi. She is a Class 6 dropout of Turlapadar Middle School.

About a year ago, Hema came into contact with Saroj Manjhi, a rich tribal youth who allegedly instigated her into having sex with him. When Hema got pregnant, Manjhi fled. Hema's angry father filed a criminal case against Manjhi.