Daily Current Affairs : 9-January-2024
The Lancet Global Health study published on December 15th, 2023, sheds light on a concerning reality in India – one in five girls and one in six boys are still being married below the legal age. This essay explores key highlights from the report, the current state of child marriages in India, and the imperative need for policy interventions.
Key Highlights from the Report:
- Call for Urgent Action:
- Researchers emphasize the immediate need for strengthened national and state-level policies to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
- Regional Disparities:
- Significant variation exists in the prevalence of girl and boy child marriages across states and Union Territories.
- Trends Over Time:
- With the exception of Manipur, all states witnessed a decline in the prevalence of girl child marriage between 1993 and 2021.
- Statistics in 2021:
- Estimated cases of girl child marriage: 13,464,450; boy child marriage: 1,454,894 in 2021.
- Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra contribute to over half of the total burden of child marriages in girls.
Child Marriages in India:
- From 2005-2006 to 2015-2016, child marriages decreased from 47.4% to 26.8%.
- Despite a positive trend, the prevalence remains high at 23.3% in 2020-21.
- Eight states, including West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura, have a higher rate than the national average.
Global Scenario:
- UNICEF reports 12 million girls marrying young annually.
- UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to eliminate harmful practices like child marriage by 2030.
Legal Intervention in India:
- Laws like the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006) and Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (2012) aim to protect children’s rights.
- The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, proposes raising the minimum age for women to marry from 18 to 21.
Why should the minimum age of marriage for women be raised?
- Lack of access to education and jobs:
- Early marriage limits women’s access to education and employment opportunities.
- Effects on health:
- Early marriage correlates with reproductive health issues, malnutrition, and higher risks of sexually transmitted diseases.
Schemes/Policies to stop girl child marriage:
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY):
- Encourages parents to invest for their daughter’s education and wedding costs.
- Balika Samriddhi Yojana:
- Aims to ensure girls from poor families receive elementary and secondary education.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao:
- A popular program focusing on empowering and educating girls, aiming to create a safe environment.
Important Points:
- Child Marriage Prevalence in India:
- Lancet Global Health study (December 15th, 2023) reveals alarming rates: one in five girls and one in six boys marry below legal age.
- Regional disparities exist, with significant variations across states and Union Territories.
- Urgent Need for Action:
- Researchers emphasize immediate strengthening of national and state-level policies to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
- State-Specific Findings:
- Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra contribute to over half of total burden in girl child marriages.
- Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh contribute to over 60% of boy child marriages.
- Trends Over Time:
- Except for Manipur, all states witnessed a decline in girl child marriage from 1993 to 2021.
- Statistics (2021):
- Estimated cases: 13,464,450 girl child marriages, 1,454,894 boy child marriages.
- Concentration in specific states, with Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra leading.
- Child Marriages in India:
- Positive trend: From 2005-2006 to 2015-2016, child marriages reduced from 47.4% to 26.8%.
- However, the prevalence remains high at 23.3% in 2020-21.
- Global Scenario:
- UNICEF reports 12 million girls marry young annually.
- UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 aims to eliminate harmful practices, including child marriage, by 2030.
- Legal Intervention in India:
- Existing laws: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act (2012).
- Proposed change: Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, suggests raising the minimum age for women to marry from 18 to 21.
- Rationale for Raising Minimum Age:
- Lack of access to education and jobs for women marrying early.
- Early marriage linked to health issues, affecting reproductive health and increasing risks of diseases.
- Schemes/Policies to Combat Girl Child Marriage:
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Encourages parental investment for daughters’ education and wedding costs.
- Balika Samriddhi Yojana: Focuses on ensuring girls from poor families receive elementary and secondary education.
- Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: A popular program emphasizing empowerment and education for girls, striving for a safe environment.
Why In News
A study published in the Lancet Global Health on December 15th, 2023, reveals that one in five girls and one in six boys in India are still getting married below the legal age of marriage. The study, which meticulously compiled data from five National Family Health Surveys spanning from 1993 to 2021, underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and policy measures to address this persistent issue and safeguard the well-being of the country’s youth.
MCQs about Child Marriage in India
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What does the Lancet Global Health study reveal about child marriages in India?
A. One in six girls and one in five boys marry below legal age.
B. One in five girls and one in six boys marry below legal age.
C. Child marriages have completely ceased in India.
D. Only boys are affected by early marriages.
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Which states contribute to over half of the total burden of child marriages in girls, according to the study?
A. Gujarat, Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh
B. Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra
C. Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Gujarat
D. Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh
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What is the proposed change in the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021?
A. Reducing the legal age for marriage.
B. Maintaining the legal age for marriage at 18.
C. Raising the legal age for marriage from 18 to 21.
D. Introducing a new category for child marriages.
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Which program aims to encourage parental investment for daughters’ education and wedding costs?
A. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
B. Balika Samriddhi Yojana
C. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
D. UN Sustainable Development Goals
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