The recent pandemic has given rise to a worrying trend in rural Madhya Pradesh, with an alarming spike in child marriages recorded. This distressing situation is reportedly a result of lockdown measures, as revealed by a report from ChildLine India.
Significant Findings by ChildLine India
Previously, between November 2019 and March 2020, Madhya Pradesh had registered 46 child marriages. However, during just the first three months of lockdown – April to June 2020 – this number skyrocketed to as much as 117. Nationwide, an estimated 5,214 child marriages were reported within the same timeframe.
Understanding the Root Causes
Several factors have contributed to the increase of child marriages. One of the crucial factors revolves around age perception, where parents see the age range of 15 to 18 as unproductive, particularly for girls, thus initiating the search for prospective matches during this period. This predisposition leaves underage girls more susceptible to child marriage as compared to boys.
Furthermore, there is an inherent weakness in the Right To Education Act; it only mandates free and compulsory education until the age of 14. Data has shown that if a girl discontinues her schooling at the age of 15, she is highly likely to be wed off prematurely.
Security Concerns Lead to Early Marriages
In certain regions, law and order are ill-equipped to provide girls in their adolescent years with adequate protection. This reality prompts some parents to resort to early marriages for their daughters. Moreover, limited education and economic restrictions predominantly confine women to domestic work – a demographic not often appreciated or valued.
Impact of the Pandemic on Child Marriage
The financial strain brought about by the pandemic has pushed underprivileged parents further towards marrying off their daughters early. The lack of functioning educational institutions exacerbates the problem, as the insecurity of children’s safety, particularly girls, leads to an escalation in both violence against children and child marriages.
The Adverse Effects of Child Marriage
Child marriage is correlated with higher incidences of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), including HIV. It contributes to bigger families, thus propelling population growth and stalling the demographic dividend that could have been obtained through reduced fertility and enhanced education investment.
Furthermore, child marriage disrupts the family institution as children wedded at a tender age are often ill-prepared for the responsibilities entailed by marriage, leading to misunderstandings amongst family members.
Impact on Child Brides
Marriage at a young age often leads to deprivation of basic rights for girls. Rights such as education, rest and leisure, and protection from abuse – physical or sexual – are frequently violated. Moreover, due to household duties, child brides typically abandon their education resulting in poor socialization and continued dependence that further impedes gender equality.
The health repercussions on child brides, who are neither physically nor emotionally ready for motherhood, are devastating. Risks of maternal mortality are highest among adolescent girls, who also face 23% greater risk of onset of diseases including heart attack, diabetes, cancer, stroke, and psychiatric disorders.
Government Measures to Curb Child Marriages
The Indian government has enacted several laws and initiatives in an attempt to curb child marriages. These include The Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929, The Special Marriage Act, 1954 and The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
In addition, the Union Ministry for Women and Child Development set up a committee to examine matters related to the age of motherhood and ways to lower Maternal Mortality Ratio and improve nutritional levels among women.
Preventing child marriage is also part of Sustainable Development Goal 5, which deals with gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls.
Childline India’s Efforts
Childline India foundation, a non-governmental organization, operates a telephone helpline called ChildLine, offering children in distress a lifeline. Their focus is on ensuring the protection of rights of all children aged 0 to 18, paying special attention to children needing care and protection, particularly the more vulnerable sections.