Banish the Evil of Child Marriage in India

Child marriage is defined as a marital union of a girl and boy before the age of 18, which also includes informal unions wherein children under the age of 18 live with a partner as if they are married. This illegal act violates children’s rights and places them at an increased risk of violence, exploitation, and abuse. It is certain that the girl and boy are affected by the marriage, however, the girl child is affected disproportionately; it puts an end to her childhood. A girl married as a child is prone to be illiterate, experience domestic violence, become infected with sexually transmitted diseases, bear a child at an early age that could potentially endanger her life due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth, etc.

While the pervasiveness of girls getting married before 18 years has decreased from 47% to 27% between 2005-2006 and 2015-2016 respectively, the sheer number is still too steep. Estimates suggest that every year, at least 1.5 million girls under 18 years get married in India, which makes it home to the largest number of child brides in the world. Close to 16% of underage girls between 15-19 years are currently married.

Ending child marriage requires efforts across all sectors and at every level of the societal fabric. It requires us to concede the multiple drivers behind this practice in various contexts and, therefore, adapt our mediations respectively. Today, we have an opportunity to act on this crippling issue and accelerate our efforts to help change the lives of children threatened by the evils of child marriage. Why should you know how to stop child marriage, you ask? It is because it will safeguard the future of our nation - its children.

Few of the ways, to begin with, that we can help diminish the practice of child marriage include:

1) Enable girls with information, skills and support systems

2) Implement economic support and incentives to girls as well as their families

3) Educate and encourage parents and community members to think progressively

4) Improve girls’ access to a high-quality education

5) Strengthen supportive laws and policies against child marriages

If you have thought of more ways on how to stop child marriage, reach out to us and let us know! Visit www.savethechildren.in today!

Ending child marriage requires improved, targeted grants from international donors and governments. Additionally, many NGOs have been associated with children ensuring that their rights are not violated by providing them

with opportunities to educate, nourish, and protect themselves. The work done by Save the Children in this

regard has been monumental; to date, they have helped 10.1 million children through their initiatives and programs across 19 states in India.

Isn’t it our responsibility to help the children of our nation with a better life?