Context: Recently, a new study has been published by the Lancet Global Health which mentions that in India one in five girls and nearly one in six boys are still married below the legal age of marriage (18 years for girls and 21 years for boys).

Child Marriage In India: Calculation and the Basis of the Lancet Study

• The researchers used data from five National Family Health Surveys from 1993, 1999, 2006, 2016,and 2021 to compile the study. 
• They calculated the annual change in prevalence during the study period for states and Union Territories and estimated the population headcount of child brides and grooms.
• They included 3,10,721 women aged 20–24 years between 1993 and 2021 and 43,436 men aged between 20 and 24 years between 2006 and 2021.

Child Marriage In India: Key Findings of the Lancet Study

• Decline in the National Rate of Child Marriage: There have been declines in child marriage during the last three decades. However, there is evidence of stagnation.
  • The largest reduction in child marriage occurred between 2006 and 2016. 
  • Child marriage declined considerably during the 1993–2021 for girls (49.4% in 1993 to 22.3% in 2021) and 2006–2021 for boys (7.1% in 2006 to 2.2% in 2021).
• About the number of Child Marriage in Girls: All states, except Manipur, experienced a decline in the prevalence of girl child marriage between 1993 and 2021. 
  • The rise in child marriage in girls was observed in Manipur and Tripura, being greater than during any previous period between 2016 and 2021.
• Existence of Variability at the Sub-National Level: Researchers have observed that substantial variability of the rate of decline of child marriage at the sub-national level exists. 

• • State governments tend to enact social sector policy in India, however there is a variation observed in the implementation of the programme to address child marriage across and within states.
• States with burden of Child Marriages:
  • For Girls: Bihar (16·7%), West Bengal (15·2%), Uttar Pradesh (12·5%), and Maharashtra (8·2%).
  • For Boys: Gujarat (29%), Bihar (16·5%), West Bengal (12.9%), and Uttar Pradesh (8.2%).
• States with Burden and Prevalence: 
  • For Child Marriage: In 2021, Uttar Pradesh had a relatively low prevalence but high burden for both girls and boys, while Tripura had a high prevalence but low burden.
  • For Child Marriage in Boys: Maharashtra had a high burden but low prevalence, while Manipur has a high prevalence but a fairly low burden. 
    • Child Marriage Prevalence: It is defined as the percentage of women 20-24 years old who were married or in union before age 18.
    • Child Marriage Burden: It is defined as the number of girls under age 18 who have already married plus the number of adult women who were married before age 18. 

Significance of the Lancet Study on Child Marriage In India

• This study provides robust sub-national estimates of changes in prevalence over time and headcount of child marriage in India using a methodology to make state-level and Union Territory-level estimates comparable over time.

Laws to Stop Child Marriage in India?

• The Child Marriage Restraint (Amendment) Act, 1978: It set the legal marriage age for males and females as 18 and 21, respectively. 
• Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2006: All marriages in India must be registered as of the year 2006. 
• The Sabla Programme of Women and Child Ministry: The adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years are imparted training about the legal rights of women, including the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
• Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: It defines a child as a male below 21 years and a female as below 18 years.
• • It provides for the appointment of Child Marriage Prohibition Officer, who was imparted with a duty to prevent child marriages and spread awareness.
• The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, 2012: Sexual contact with a minor is considered rape under the POCSO Act.
• Availability of Helplines: The government has introduced a CHILDLINE (code 1098), a 24X7 telephone emergency outreach service for children in crisis.
• The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR): It  undertakes various activities and programmes on the issue of child marriages and related matters.

Child Marriage in India: Concerns

• Violation of Rights: Child marriages violate girls’ human rights such as Right to Education, Right to Protection from Mental or Physical Abuse including Rape and Sexual Exploitation.
• Against Gender Equality: Child marriages for females results in the male-dependencies and impacts the vision of gender equality.
• Impact on Future Generation: Child marriages lead to teenage pregnancy that impact the future generation.
• Impact on Economy: Child marriage negatively affects as girls and boys married as children more likely lack the skills, knowledge and job opportunities.

Way Forward Needed to Prevent Child Marriage in India

• Strengthening of Policy: There is a need for strengthening of national and state-level policy to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
• A Multi Pronged Approach: Better education, public infrastructure facilities, raising social awareness, eliminatio n of inequalities, programmes, strong laws and their strict enforcement in a transparent manner is required.
• Incorporation of Best Practices: The recommendations of the Shivraj Patil Committee report 2011 have helped bring down the child marriages in Karnataka and it can be incorporated in other states too.

News Source: The Indian Express

Also Read: Age Of Consent Under The POCSO Act