FACTORS AND PROBLEMS OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN INDIA

Abstract [English]

Child marriage is closely associated with poverty and is likely to increase girls’ vulnerabilities. Girls who marry young are often socially isolated and cut-off from family, friends and other support systems. They may face an increased risk of limited opportunities for education and decent work. In spite of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), the practice of child marriage remains pervasive due to factors spread across the socio-ecological spectrum, including structural inequalities and regressive social norms. The objective of this analysis is to study and trace the trends in the practice of child marriage in India. The review is based on the latest data and evidence and will examine socio-economic determinants to understand the specific role of these factors, which perpetuate this harmful practice. Marriage is one of the important social institutions and it is a means of establishing a family through which the society perpetuates. This social process is expressed in the form of rituals and symbols. In India 45 percent of girls are wedded below 18 year. The Niger is top country (74.5%) in the world for child marriage below 18 years of the age, followed by Chad, Mali, Bangladesh, Guinea and Central African Republic, their percentages are 71.5, 70.6, 66.62, 63.1 and 57 respectively. Majority of girls who were married below 18 year are from poor and below poverty line (BPL) families. Nearly 80 percent girls are facing the domestic violence (beaten, slapped or threatened), health problems. Most of the girls who are married before 18 year are likely to get pregnancy problems and there were death case reported. Girls younger than 15 are five times more likely to die in childbirth than women in their 20s. The age group below 18 year has high fertility. Child brides often show signs symptomatic of sexual abuse and post-traumatic stress such as feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and severe depression.