It is a matter of shame on the part of society that almost 45% of girls in India are tied in a wed lock before they reach the age of eighteen, the legal age to marry. The number easily crosses 50% in eight states.
While 52.5% of the cases of under-18 marriages were found to be in rural areas, while the number stood at 28.1% in urban India.
1. 55% of girls in Andhra Pradesh are married off before they reach 18.
2. Jharkhand topped the chart with 61%.
3. The number stood at 60% for Bihar.
4. 57% for Rajasthan.
5. 53% each for Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
6. 52% for Chattisgarh.
Possible reasons for this trend are lack of education, position of girl child and women in society.
This tendency may act upon health and well being of the girls since a girl marrying below 18 often gives birth to an unhealthy child. Also it effects the mental and emotional well-being of the girl.
This clearly proves that the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 isn’t being implemented effectively by several states across the country.
The government needs to provide alternative economic support and livelihood options for children who want to opt out of this abusive environment, more so the girl-child. More and more children believe they must be given the freedom to decide whom they want to marry, and at what age. The majority want to marry when they are earning adults and not be forced into early marriage.
