This article sheds light on the India’s efforts to eradicate child marriage to make child marriage-free nation by 2029.
What is Child Marriage?
- Child marriage refers to the marriage of a girl or boy before they turn 18.
- Types: It includes:
- Formal Marriages: Legal or traditional ceremonies binding children in marriage.
- Informal Unions: Situations where children under 18 live with a partner as though they are married.
Status of India’s Progress Against Child Marriage
- Significant Decline: Child marriages in India have halved since 2006, from 47.4% to 23.3% in 2019-21.
- Preventive Measures: Around 2 lakh child marriages were prevented in the past year.
- Global Trend: India is a significant contributor to the global decline in child marriage rates, especially in South Asia.
- Persistent Challenge: Despite progress, one in five girls in India still married before 18.
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Factors Leading to Child Marriage in India
- Lack of Education: Limited education for girls reduces their awareness and opportunities, making them more vulnerable to early marriages.
- Perception of Girls as a Burden: Girls are often seen as financial liabilities in many families as the practice of dowry perpetuates early marriage.
Consequences of child marriage
- Health Impacts:
- Deteriorated Maternal and Infant Health
- psychological stress, depression, and anxiety
- Social and Emotional Effects
- Loss of Childhood
- Isolation of girls from their family and peers.
- Educational and Economic Consequences
- Limited educational opportunities due to school drop out
- Lack of education makes girls vulnerable and restricts their economic opportunities.
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- Social and Cultural Factors: Child marriages are more common in rural areas and among marginalized communities like Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
- Gender Inequality: Limited opportunities and discrimination against girls push families toward early marriages as a means of security.
Should the age of marriage be raised for girls? Pros and Cons
| Pros |
Cons |
| – Reduced maternal mortality rates. – Lower infant mortality rates. – Better overall physical and mental health |
It May lead to increased parental control over girls’ lives, limiting their autonomy and decision-making power. |
| – Increased likelihood of completing education – Better career prospects and economic independence |
Girls would face more resistance from conservative communities and traditional practices. |
| Empowered women contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. |
Difficulty in enforcing the law, especially in rural areas and marginalized communities. |
| Allows for better spacing and planning of children, improving child health and well-being. |
May lead to increased premarital sexual activity, which could have societal and moral implications. |
Legislative Framework
- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006: This act prohibits the solemnization of child marriages and provides mechanisms to prevent and address them.
- It sets the legal age for marriage at 18 for females and 21 for males.
- Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929: The earlier act aimed to restrain child marriages but was replaced by the PCMA, 2006.
- Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000: It defines a child as a person below 18 years of age.
- The act focuses on preventing and addressing juvenile delinquency.
- It provides guidelines for protecting, treating, and rehabilitating children.
- It ensures proper care and support for children within the juvenile justice system.
- International Commitments: India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and has committed to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5, which aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
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Government’s Initiatives
- Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: The government launched the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ (Child Marriage-Free India) campaign to further combat child marriages.
- Focus Areas:
- Seven high-burden states: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Nearly 300 districts where child marriage rates exceed the national average.
- Goal: Reduce child marriage rates to below 5% by 2029.
- UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage.
- Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal: A platform for awareness, reporting cases, and monitoring progress.
- Encouraging Community Participation: Gram Panchayats preventing child marriages will receive a ₹50,000 reward.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) Scheme: Launched in 2015, this initiative focuses on saving and educating the girl child, thereby addressing the root causes of child marriage.
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Promotes education for girls, which is crucial in preventing child marriages.
November 29, 2024
