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According to the Union Women and Child Development Minister, child marriages in India have been reduced by half, from 47.4% to 23.3% in 2019-21.
According to the 2011 Census, more than 12 million child marriages were reported in India. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 23% of women aged 20 to 24 married before the age of 18, with states such as West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura having higher rates than the national average.
In India, nearly one-fourth of all young women (23%) marry before the age of 18. India accounts for one-third of the global total child brides.
More than half of India's females who married as children live in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number.
The prevalence of child marriage varies significantly by state. For example, in West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura, more than 40% of young women married before the age of 18, compared to only 1% in Lakshadweep.
Girls from rural areas and lower-income households are more likely to marry as children. Girls who have little or no education are more likely to marry young.
Child marriage is widely accepted as a cultural practice in certain areas.
For financial reasons, low-income households may marry off their children at a young age.
Political leaders hesitant to oppose child marriage practices because they are socially acceptable in their communities.
Child marriage is sometimes used to traffic girls into exploitation, including sex work.
Child marriage limits access to education, reduces future opportunities, promotes gender inequality, and poses significant health risks.
Women who marry at a young age face increased pregnancy risk, such as higher infant and maternal mortality rates.
Child brides also experience stunted growth and underdevelopment, which affects both their physical and mental health.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aims to address the declining child sex ratio and stresses the importance of girl education.
PM Matru Vandana Yojana provides cash incentives to pregnant and nursing mothers for improved nutrition and health.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, aims to raise the minimum marriage age for women to 21.
One-Stop Centers and Women's Helplines offer integrated services to women who have been victims of violence.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act 2012 was enacted to protect children from sexual offenses.
About ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign
It is a nationwide campaign to end child marriages, with a focus on seven high-states (West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh) and nearly 300 districts where child marriage rates exceed the national average.
The campaign aims to reduce child marriage rates in India to below 5% by 2029.
The 'Child Marriage Free Bharat' portal is a key component of the campaign, designed to raise awareness, report cases of child marriage, and track progress toward ending the practice.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Critically analyze the socio-economic factors that contribute to the prevalence of child marriage in India. (150 words) |
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