Child marriage is a serious problem that keeps happening in our society. It hurts the lives of many young girls in India in ways that can’t be fixed. According to the 2023 UNICEF report, India has the highest percentage (34%) of females and women who married under age 18 among the rest of the world. It is very important to fight for their rights to be respected and for them to have a future without being tied down by child marriage.
The problem at hand is twofold: The act of child marriage itself and the problems it causes. It violates basic rights of children. because it keeps girls from going to school, growing as individuals and having a say in their own lives. “In India, under The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 – a child has been defined as a person who, if a male, has not completed 21 years of age, and if a female, has not completed 18 years of age.
This act also declares that any marriage solemnized between children below the legal age limit is null and void”. Child marriage leads to more violence, poverty, and unequal treatment of girls and boys, according to research from groups like UNICEF and Girls Not Brides. It also hurts their health, causing them to get pregnant early, have problems during labor, also increases the vulnerability of girls to domestic abuse. We need to use this proof to change policies and make the future better for our country.
The problem with the way things are now is that there aren’t enough strict laws and regulations to stop child marriages. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act is in place, but it is not always followed. Sometimes, cultural norms and social forces take precedence over law protections. To solve this problem successfully, we need a policy plan that covers a lot of ground.
My proposal revolves around a three-pronged approach, keeping in mind the 3a’s – availability, accessibility, and acceptability, and the one-question framework (1Q) for policy implementation.
Firstly, to stop child marriage, we need to make the laws tougher and give the right means. This could be done by making changes to the current Act, making it so that all marriages involving people under the legal age must be reported, and making the consequences for violators stronger. Also, there should be a public awareness effort that targets not only possible child brides and grooms but also their families and communities.
Secondly, to stop problems before they happen, we need to put education first. We can give girls in rural and underserved areas more access to high-quality education and give them the power to make smart decisions about their lives. This can be done by giving more money to schools (for example, through grants) and improving the facilities there. Policies can also be put in place to make sure that schools are safe places for girls to be.
Lastly, to stop child marriage, society needs to change. Community leaders, church leaders, and other important people can help promote gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the end of child marriage by talking to them and working with them. We can question deeply held patriarchal views that keep child marriage going by encouraging conversations about gender roles and norms.