Bal Vivah Mukht Bharat Abhiyan· Child marriage is a major social issue in India, deeply rooted in poverty, gender inequality, and societal traditions.· The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the Bal Vivah Mukht Bharat Abhiyan on November 27, 2024.· The campaign aims to completely eradicate child marriage, aligning with India's vision of becoming a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) by 2047.· The timing of the campaign coincides with the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (observed from November 25 to December 10, ending on Human Rights Day).· Focuses on combating gender-based violence and promoting the rights of children and women.· Aims to eliminate child marriage by targeting high-risk states and empowering citizens using innovative tools.· Prioritizes education, awareness, and proper law implementation to ensure social justice and gender equality. Ø
Key Features of the Campaign
- Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal:
- An online platform for citizen empowerment.
- Allows citizens to:
- Register complaints regarding child marriages.
- Access information about local Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs).
- Promotes transparency and community involvement in eradicating child marriage.
- Role of CMPOs:
- CMPOs play a critical role in the campaign by:
- Preventing child marriages.
- Gathering evidence for prosecution.
- Counseling families.
- Raising awareness about the harmful effects of child marriage.
- Community Involvement:
- Citizens are encouraged to pledge against child marriage, fostering a sense of collective responsibility.
- Focus on High-Risk States:
- Targets states with higher-than-average child marriage rates, including:
- West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Aims to bridge regional disparities and accelerate the elimination of child marriage.
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Progress and Achievements- India has made significant progress in reducing child marriage rates over the past decades:
- Girls: Child marriage rates declined from 49% in 1993 to 22% in 2021.
- Boys: Child marriage rates declined from 7% in 2006 to 2% in 2021.
- Improvement in the sex ratio at birth:
- Increased from 918 (2014-15) to 930 (2023-24).
- Reflects the success of initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
- Challenges remain:
- Regional disparities:
- States like Manipur, Punjab, Tripura, and West Bengal recorded an increase in girl child marriages.
- Chhattisgarh, Goa, Manipur, and Punjab saw an increase in boy child marriages.
- Stagnation in progress: Between 2016 and 2021, progress slowed in some areas.
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Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)- The campaign aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.3, which aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
- Recognizes child marriage as:
- A violation of human rights.
- A barrier to social and economic development, particularly for girls.
- Focuses on education and empowerment of girls as key strategies to prevent child marriage.
- Supports the National Education Policy 2020, emphasizing education as a tool to break cycles of poverty and inequality.
- Aims to provide girls with opportunities and resources to make informed decisions about their lives and futures.
- Pays tribute to initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, enhancing awareness about girls' rights and promoting gender equality.
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Legislative Framework to Counter Child Marriage- Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006:
- Sets the minimum age of marriage at:
- 18 years for women.
- 21 years for men.
- Empowers state governments to appoint Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs).
- CMPOs are responsible for:
- Preventing child marriages.
- Gathering evidence for prosecution.
- Raising awareness about the harmful consequences of child marriage.
- Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
- Proposed raising the legal age of marriage for women to 21 years, aligning it with the age for men.
- The bill lapsed with the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha.
- POCSO Act:
- Boys marrying girls below 14 years are prosecuted under the POCSO Act.
- The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 applies to boys marrying girls aged 14–18 years.
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Economic, Social, and Cultural Factors Leading to Child MarriageØ
Economic Factors:· Families in poverty view marriage as a way to reduce financial burdens.· In dowry-practicing communities, marrying girls at a younger age helps families save money.· Economic hardships due to natural disasters or agricultural crises push families toward early marriages.Ø
Social Norms and Traditions:· Early marriage is a social norm in many communities, compelling families to follow customs.· Social pressure and fear of stigma often lead families to marry off daughters early.Ø
Gender Inequality:· Girls have limited access to education and opportunities compared to boys.· Lack of agency leaves families with few alternatives, perpetuating the cycle of child marriage.Ø
Strategies for Success- Education and Awareness:
- Advocate for girls' education to break cycles of poverty and inequality.
- Raise awareness about the harmful impacts of child marriage on children and society.
- Economic Support:
- Scale up conditional cash transfer programs like the Dhanalakshmi Scheme for vulnerable populations.
- Provide livelihood programs and financial incentives to reduce economic pressures driving child marriage.
- Strengthening Legal Frameworks:
- Ensure effective implementation of laws like the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
- Equip CMPOs with the resources and training needed to prevent child marriages and prosecute offenders.
- Community Involvement:
- Engage local communities, religious leaders, and civil society organizations to challenge traditional norms.
- Promote gender equality and collective responsibility in preventing child marriages.
