In Indian society, it is the community that dictates when one marries and whom one marries. In the 21st century, marriages are still arranged, and often at a very early age. They are either engaged in childhood, or the family's word to each other prevails. What if the girl or boy refuses to marry the same person after all these many years? And the crimes happening lately, is it not society's fault? A 19-year-old girl in Indore was found hanging in her house, leaving her infant daughter lying on the bed. The girl was depressed, troubled by her in-laws and her husband's extramarital affair. At last, she chose to end her life. When you do not accept or allow, they find another way. This should not happen, but it does...more tragic and deadly. Then, the society is nowhere to be seen to hold responsibility. In November 2024, the Union Women and Child Development Minister, Annapurna Devi, said that Child marriages in India have fallen to almost half from 47.4% in 2006 to 23.3% in 2021. Surely, there has been a decline, yet one in five girls gets married before turning 18. Until very recently, a young girl in Maharashtra's Kolhapur allegedly died by suicide, before which she had filed a complaint against seven people, including her in-laws, under the POSCO Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. Where do we lack... in our system, in our implementation, or are we a failure as a society?
It was a former custom in India to marry children, long before they turned into adults. This was due to a lack of education among the masses. As they started becoming literate, this culture became an evil practice. Some conservative communities in both rural and urban spaces still encourage it. If anyone goes against their will, they are even killed in the name of honor.
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Riya Jain states that there is a need to instill change in the entire community Riya Jain, Head Office Incharge of the Human Rights and Crime Control Organization, Indore, says, "Earlier, people used to think that children should be married off early and settle in a good family. They didn't want to leave the choice with their children to choose a partner for themselves. Well, it is the thinking that still prevails among the masses. The practice seems acceptable to them, as if marriage fixes everything. And, it is the only way to stop a young girl or boy from getting 'spoilt'."
If you believe that child marriages do not exist in India, burst your bubble right there. Child marriage is still prevalent in the nation and has become more of a community-driven thing. If it's not a marriage, the elders ensure that there is a 'word of promise' kept among the families, that the girl and boy will be tied in matrimony when they grow up. The 23.3% stated in the last data is still a significant percentage, and cannot be ignored.
Moreover, the NHFS-5 Survey (2019-21) reveals that some Indian states have a percentage that is more than the national average. This includes West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura, with 40% of women married before 18 years old. Other states that followed were Jharkhand, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Telangana. The varying differences also exist in terms of caste, with a higher percentage observed in Scheduled Castes and Tribes (SC and ST)[1].
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Ex-DGP IPS Nirmal Kaur was the Director General (DG) of Police in Jharkhand There is another aspect to this, with immigrants waging the evil practice ahead. As Ex-DGP IPS Nirmal Kaur, who retired as Director General (DG) of Police, states, "Tribal communities do not marry children unless they hit puberty. Even in some interior villages, people are giving importance to education. But some Bangladeshi immigrants settled in India are engaged in early marriages."
Does the law hold no value?
The Indian law states that 21 years is the eligible age to marry for both boys and girls. Earlier, it was a minimum of 18 years for girls, but it was increased to 21.
So, does the law hold no value? Nirmal Kaur answers, "In such matters, the police becomes only a witness. They cannot take any action unless there is a complaint registered against the family or community, which is rare."
Riya Jain adds, "And if we come to know about it or there is a complaint registered, when our organizations and police force go to raid and interrogate in the matter, firstly, they do not allow you. The entire community comes together, and they start stone pelting or doing anything that hinders the investigation."
One in every three child brides of the world lives in India (UNICEF report 2021) According to a UNICEF report of 2021 titled 'Ending Child Marriage: Progress and Prospects', about 27% women aged between 20 to 49 years were married before they turned 15. Child marriage largely affects girls and women. Their mental and physical health takes a toll. Girls are not only married off young, but also conceive early. Most of them are iron-deficient, lacking haemoglobin, but are conceiving and have to deliver anyway. This doesn't end here, due to the deteriorating nutritional levels, either the mother or the child dies after some time.
Amid all this, the mental exhaustion that a girl goes through. Some of them are troubled by their in-laws, some aren't happy with their husbands, which adds to the postpartum depression.
Laws do exist, but it is time that the awareness is instilled within the community. Unless society doesn't changes, or comes together against such evil practices, they will continue to exist. Moreover, encouraged and boasted about...
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