Syllabus: Social Issues
Context
- India reaffirmed commitment to end child marriage by 2030 under UN SDG obligations.
- The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan completed one year with a 100-day awareness campaign.
- The campaign aligns with SDG Target 5.3, focusing on eliminating harmful practices.
Global Perspective
- SDG 5 seeks gender equality and empowerment of women and girls globally.
- Target 5.3 measures child marriage through women aged 20–24 married before 18.
- UNICEF (2023) estimated 64 crore women globally were married as children.
- India accounts for nearly one-third of the global child bride population.
- Global progress must accelerate 20 times faster to meet the 2030 deadline.
- Failure to curb child marriage undermines at least nine SDGs, including health and education.
Trends in India
- Child marriage declined sharply from 47.4% (2005–06) to 26.8% (2015–16).
- Progress slowed thereafter, reaching 23.3% in 2019–21 (NFHS).
- Regional disparities persist, with West Bengal (42%), Bihar (40%), and Tripura (39%) highest.
- Lowest prevalence observed in Lakshadweep (4%), Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh (6%).
- Education strongly reduces risk: 48% without schooling versus 4% with higher education.
- Economic status matters: 40% from poorest households marry early, compared to 8% richest.
Policy and Institutional Measures
- Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006 contributed to halving national prevalence.
- POCSO Act, 2012 indirectly discouraged child marriage through stricter child protection.
- Bal Vivah Mukt Abhiyan portal reports 54,917 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers appointed.
- The campaign prevented 1,520 child marriages in one year; 198 cases remained unprevented.
- Madhya Pradesh and Haryana recorded the highest prevention numbers.
Schemes Supporting Girls
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao promotes education and empowerment, though implementation varies.
- Laadli schemes provide financial incentives linked to education milestones.
- Interventions include school enrolment drives, bicycles, and improved sanitation facilities.
Debate on Legal Age of Marriage
- Proposal to raise women’s marriage age to 21 years aims to enhance education and autonomy.
- Critics caution that legal change without social reform may criminalise communities.
- NFHS shows 61% of women aged 20–24 married before 21, raising enforcement concerns.
Overall Assessment
- India has achieved substantial reduction, but uneven progress threatens the 2030 target.
- Education, economic empowerment, and norm change remain the most effective levers.
