The word ‘child marriage’ refers to a
marriage in which either girl is below 18 or a boy is below 21. In India
a large number of girls are married before reaching to adulthood. Child
marriage is a form of sexual abuse and exploitation especially for
girls. It is objectionable for many reasons. Child marriage takes away
education, health, other opportunities and freedom of decision making.
Child marriage not only takes away girls childhood, it also puts several
domestic responsibilities on their soft shoulder which is painful and
for which they are not ready physically and mentally.
Reasons for Child Marriage
Poverty is one of the biggest reasons
for child marriage. Poverty and problem related to poverty promote child
marriage by putting pressure on the daily expenses of a family related
to education, maintenance, clothing and etc. Parents fear if they will
marry their daughter later then they have to need more amount of money
for Dowry and other expenses so fear of exorbitant dowry is reason for
child marriage, dowry rate are found to increase according to the age of
girl. Illiteracy of parents and lack of awareness also promotes the
Child Marriage. Lack of schools within locality for higher education of
girls is another is also a reason for early marriage. If the school for
higher education is not within village then it is very tough to continue
education for a girl because the road connecting to school may not be
safe and communicable, and girls have to dropout their school. In
outback areas it is treated that “What would a girl do by accessing a
higher education”. When girls left her school due to lack of school for
higher education and due to social customs then they considered as a
burden on her family. Now-a-days fear of elopement puts a pressure on
the parents to marry their daughter early and due to fear of elopement
they don’t send their girl to school.
Laws against Child Marriage
The Child Marriage Restraint Act (1929)
This Act also called Sarda Act. This act
applied into a whole nation except Jammu and Kashmir. In this act, at
the time of marriage age of a boy should be 21 and more, and in case of
girl it should be 28 or more. If a marriage is conducted before this
age, then it’s punishable under this law. The punishment of up to 3
months prison or a possible fine.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006)
Indian government brought this Act in 2006 and this came in the effect from 1st
of November, 2007. This act is addressed to the shortcoming of the
previous child marriage act (Child Marriage Restraint Act, 1929). The
duration of punishment from (3 months to 2-years) is increased in this
act. The age of boy and girl is same in this act also but there are some
major changes made up.
In my view, Dowry should be ended from
society, Schools and Vocational Training Institutes should to be open
more and more and society have to determine to reach out the girls to
schools safely. There is a need to spread awareness in illiterate
parents. There is a need of spreading the demerits of Child Marriage.