The Karnataka State Women’s Commission chairperson Nagalakshmi Choudhary said here on Monday that child marriage is an area of concern and steps should be taken to curb them.

She said that there were nearly 29,000 child marriages in the State last year, and this is concerning because it deprives girls of education at an early age.

She said poverty and ignorance were some of the root causes for child marriages, while many parents consider girl child as a ‘burden’ and tend to marry them off at an early age. Ms. Choudhary said there are reports that parents have a tendency to rush their daughters into marriage out of fear that they might get into a relationship.

As long as there is a lack of awareness and education in society, the scourge of child marriages and other social evils will prevail, she said.

Ms. Choudhary paid a visit to Seth Mohandas Tulsidas Hospital and interacted with the patients. She instructed the hospital staff and officials to ensure that there was no cause for complaint from the patients.