A Strong Dedication to Curb Child Marriage

Progress is being made to reduce the prevalence of child marriage in India.

“In our country today, one in every five girls is married before the age of 18. Child marriage is one of the most severe forms of human rights violations and is also a criminal offense under the law,” says Annpurna Devi, India’s minister for women and child development.

A nationwide campaign – “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan” – has been launched to reduce childhood marriages, hoping to achieve below 5 per cent by 2029. To help achieve this goal and secure greater rights for young girls, a national platform is now available for people to register any complaints about child marriages. This campaign comes in addition to – and hopes to strengthen further the implementation of – the Prohibition of the Child Marriage Act 2006. Since then, India has made some progress in reducing childhood marriages, contributing to the global decline found across South Asia. According to the National Family Health Survey-5, 2005-06, there was a prevalence of 47.4 per cent. By 2019-21, the number had reduced to 23.3 per cent. This new target – below 5 per cent by 2029 – is achievable but does require a cultural shift for many government leaders and citizens.