Fake Aadhaar cards used to hide child marriages in TN’s Krishnagiri
text_fields
Chennai: In a concerning revelation, authorities in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district have uncovered that families are altering Aadhaar card information to conceal child marriages and evade legal consequences. In the last six months, at least six similar cases have emerged in just the Kelamangalam block.
The fraud was initially detected via the state’s PICME (Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation) system, employed to track the health of expecting mothers. Health workers identified discrepancies between girls' digital PICME records and the physical Aadhaar cards shown during medical appointments.
A 14-year-old girl arrived at the Nagamangalam Primary Health Centre in May to register her pregnancy. Her Aadhaar card indicated she was 20, but PICME data accurately listed her as 14. When asked, she and her husband, who is 29, confessed to paying Rs 200 at a nearby browsing center in Denkanikottai to alter her date of birth and create the impression of a legitimate marriage
She was sent to Hosur Government Hospital, and the issue was reported to the All Women's Police Station in Denkanikottai. An in-depth investigation uncovered that counterfeit Aadhaar cards were being produced for as low as Rs 500 at multiple browsing centers and photo studios in Rayakottai and Denkanikottai. Worryingly, some health department employees were reportedly assisting families in committing the fraud.
Dr. C. Rajesh Kumar, the Medical Officer for Kelamangalam Block, stated that measures are in progress. "We are examining the browsing centers and studios participating." He stated that health workers have been explicitly cautioned against endorsing any such unlawful actions. A health worker in Bettamugilalam panchayat has been terminated for facilitating Aadhaar manipulation.
District Health Officer Dr. G. Ramesh Kumar stated that all personnel will receive training to recognize and report these cases. “We will not accept any type of backing for child marriages,” he stated.
From April 2024 to March 2025, the district noted 545 teenage pregnancies, the most being in Shoolagiri (81), Krishnagiri rural (72), and Kelamangalam (66).
District Collector C. Dinesh has declared the establishment of a dedicated task force to look into Aadhaar manipulationand enforce severe measures against individuals implicated in child marriage incidents.
