What is child marriage?
Marriage becomes legal in India after the age of 18. But there are many parents who get their children married before the appropriate age. In many states of our country child marriage has been going on, such as in Rajasthan, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand. Even in Odisha, this issue has the prevalence of 21.3%.
In 1929, Har Bilas Sarda opposed the child marriage. At that time India did not yet have independence. At that time a boy’s age of marriage used to be 18 and a girl’s age of marriage used to be 14. After Independence, in 1949 the child marriage act was reformed and the age of marriage for both boys & girls was fixed to be 18 & 15 respectively.
In 1978, Har Bilas Sarda enacted a new law that stated that a girl’s age of marriage should be 18 and a boy’s age of marriage should be 21. This law became very popular among the people and was called SARDA LAW.
In 2006 the Government declared the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA).
In 2012 government declared another act called POCSO (Protection of Children of Sexual Offence) for the protection of children to oppose their relationships of young people.
In 2021, the Indian Government declared the age for both girls & boys to be 21 for marriage.
Cause of child marriage:
- Poverty
- Economic survival strategies
- Tradition & culture
- Gender inequality
- Insecurity
- Lack of education
- Political & financial reasons
- Setting disputes
- Sealing land or property deals.
Effect of child marriage:
- Child marriage negatively affects the Indian economy and can lead to an integrated cycle of poverty
- Girls & boys married as children more likely lack the skills, knowledge and job prospects needed to lift there country’s social & economic growth .
- Child marriage perpetuates an unrelenting cycle of gender inequality & sickness of poverty
- Young girls who lack status, power and maturity are often subjected to domestic violence, sexual abuse & social isolation
Advantages of child marriage:
- No need of the prefect time
- Have time before planning kids
- Cool young parent
- Financial stability
- Being considerate and having patience
- Being responsible individuals
- Less to no baggage in life
- Sexual life
- Religious reasons
Disadvantages of child marriage:
- Lack of understanding
- Compatibility matters
- Financial safety
- Compatibility matters
- Financial safety
- Risk of miscarriage of abortion
- Lack of proper education
- Need to learn a lot
- Making compromises
- Lack of individuality
- Family fights
Conclusion:
Child marriage constitutes a gross violation of human rights, leaving physical, psychological & emotional scars for life. So it is the responsibility of all of us that if we see any such activities of child marriage in our society, we should call the child helpline number 1098.
BY – JHARANA JENA
Masters in Social Work, 1st Division
N.C. Autonomous College, Jajpur
REFERENCES
https://www.unicef.org/rosa/what-we-do/child-protection/child-marriage
https://www.unicef.org/protection/child-marriage
https://blog.ipleaders.in/age-marriage-increased-18-21-girls-sarda-act/
https://blog.ipleaders.in/child-marriage-impacts-consequences-effects-girl-child/
