Special Report: Child Marriages Among Indians in Negeri Sembilan Estates

Child marriages are not uncommon in the Indian community residing at rubber estates in Negeri Sembilan. Such unions, where those tying the knot are aged 12, are attributed to gross ignorance.Last year, the Mariamman Hindu temple at the Geddes Estate saw five child marriages 'solemnised' in the absence of their respective families. Some of the 'brides' and 'grooms' were school dropouts.The 78-year-old temple priest, who wished to be identified only as Velanaranie, admitted offering his blessings to the five young 'couples'.


"These five couples did not register their marriage. They just tied the thali (a symbol of Hindu marriage union). Two of the brides who received my blessings didn't even have an identity card."None of their families or close relatives was present to witness the 'marriage' of the couples, some of whom were school dropouts," he told Bernama.It must be noted that having no birth certificate or identity card is another common problem among Indians residing in estates.Velanaranie said he was made to understand there were at least six teenagers who eloped with their partners at the estate.

"Among the reasons for the elopement is because their parents forbade them from getting married. Some of them marry because the girl has become pregnant," he said.Geddes Estate village head Tam Lui Chong, 56, said such marriages had caused many of the Indian families in the estate to have children whose births were never registered."As a result, the children will follow in their parents' footsteps. They are neither well-educated nor involved in crime. Their problem is social ignorance and limited knowledge," he said.

During the voters' census recently, 20 of 160 registered Indian voters in the estate possessed only old identity cards (IC) while another seven did not even have an IC."This is probably because they are not well-educated and thus, have no interest whatsoever, to know what is happening around them," he said. Lorry driver K. Naryanan, 24, married M. Kaladevi (now 21) at the Geddes Estate when she was just 15.He quit school after Standard Six, fell in love for the first time at 14 and got married at 18 when Kaladevi was pregnant."I told my family that my girlfriend was having my baby and that I wanted to marry her... but they were all against it (the marriage) and so, I left home to marry Kaladevi," he said.

Naryanan, who earns a monthly income of RM600, regretted his action as his salary today was hardly enough to support the growing family.The couple and their four children are now staying in a small house – devoid of rooms – with just a bathroom.Although poor, Naryanan has never applied for any assistance from the government via the social welfare department because he did not even know that such assistance exists.
Kaladevi, on the other hand, said she has never been to school or left the house as her marriage to Naryanan was never blessed by their parents."I have four children. My eldest is now seven years old and he does not go to school because my husband cannot afford the education," she said.

Source : Bernama