Social scourge, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• India aims to end child marriage by 2030 per the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
• The Union government marked the first anniversary of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan with a 100-day awareness campaign.
• Child marriages have decreased from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 23.3% in 2019-21, according to NFHS data.
• Highest child marriage rates are in West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura.
• Poverty and lack of education are directly correlated with child marriage.
• The Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006 is the primary law, but has infrequent application.

Detailed Insights:

• Progress against child marriage is uneven across states and socio-economic groups in India.
• UN Population Fund analysis shows 40% of girls from the lowest wealth quintile marry before adulthood, compared to 8% from the highest.
• 48% of girls with no education marry before 18, compared to 4% with higher education.
• Use of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act raises concerns, pushing underage girls to unsafe, unregistered help.
• Child marriage leads to poor maternal and child health outcomes.
• States like West Bengal, despite incentivizing girls' education, still have high child marriage rates.
• The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign needs to reach more vulnerable communities and improve infrastructure for girls' education.
• Ending child marriage is crucial for achieving at least nine of the 17 SDGs.
• Addressing poverty, education, health, and gender inequality is essential to bridge the gap between policy and practice.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Child Marriage: Marriage of a person before the age of 18, violating their rights and well-being.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all".
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: A government of India initiative aimed at generating awareness and improving the efficiency of welfare services intended for girls.
• NFHS (National Family Health Survey): A large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in India, which provides information on population, health, and nutrition.