Issue of Child Marriage in Rajasthan :

In many rural areas of Rajasthan, the birth of a daughter is considered bad luck, she is an economic hardship, a burden for her family. To help reduce the family’s economic responsibilities, she is married off young, saving money on both her education and dowry.
Child marriage is harmful for both boys and girls, but the practice affects girls with much more intensity. Apart from restricted educational opportunities, psychological growth and personal development, girls are compelled into early childbirth, suffer from malnutrition, experience serious birth complications and are given extensive family responsibilities at an unfairly young age. These girls are also more likely to be subjected to domestic violence and abuse, increased economic dependence, and general inequality in the home, due to underdeveloped negotiating skills at their young age.

The Census 2011 figures indicate that Rajasthan ranks third among all states in India with respect to prevalence of child marriage. Approximately 7.2 lakh girls in Rajasthan were married before age 18 years in the 0-4 years prior to Census 2011. While child marriage is prevalent in all the districts, the census figures show wide variations between the districts. 15 districts in the state have high prevalence of child marriage, when compared to the state average.

According to a report 'Factsheet Child Marriages 2019' released by the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (Unicef) late on Monday stated that while in Tamil Nadu and Kerala child marriage prevalence was below 20 per cent, they were pockets of disparity concentrated in tribal communities and amongst particular castes, including the Scheduled Castes.

Although child marriages in India have declined, a few states like Bihar, West Bengal and Rajasthan continue to carry on with the harmful practice and there is nearly 40 per cent prevalence in these states, the Unicef

Causes :

The root causes of child marriage range from deep-rooted gender biasness, traditional norms and social practices, poverty, safety and security, and insufficient or no access to schooling especially secondary education. A careful analysis of the reasons and consequences of child marriages seems to clearly suggest that there is need combine both macro and micro level factors in ways that would impact an adolescent’s life; by giving them opportunities to make informed choices and operate within a safe environment, free from violence.

Problems Attributed to Child Marriage :

Poor health, early death and lack of educational opportunities lead the list of problems attributed to child marriage. Child brides have double the pregnancy death rate of women in their twenties. The leading cause of death for young girls between the ages of 15 and 19 in developing countries is early pregnancy. Child brides are at an extremely high risk for fistulas — vaginal and anal ruptures — from having babies too young, and their babies are sicker and weaker. Many do not survive childhood. Child brides have a higher risk of being infected with sexually transmitted diseases, and they're at increased risk for chronic anemia and obesity.

Child brides typically have very limited access to contraception and a lack of educational opportunities. They're often subject to a lifetime of poverty. Statistically, child brides have a higher risk of becoming victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and murder.

Child marriage threatens girls' lives, well-being and futures and if efforts were not accelerated, more than 150 million girls would be married off before their 18th birthday by 2030.

Law related to child marriage :

Technically, child marriage is illegal in India. A law passed in 1929, the government passed a law banning the practice, and it was updated again in 2006. Today, both women under 18 and men under 21 cannot legally get married.

Education is Key  :

Education is the most important element in helping to end the practice of forced child marriages. Education of their parents is just as important as the education of the children. It may broaden their horizons and can help convince them that their children must be educated, not only in reading, writing, and math but in life skills as well as reproduction and contraception information.

Steps taken by Government :

1. To curb child marriage in the state of Rajasthan, the district administration of Bundi has made printing the date of birth of both the bride and the groom on the wedding cards, mandatory. It's also compulsory that the invites carry a warning stating that child marriages are punishable by law.

2. Under the banner of “Sajha Abhiyan” of the Rajasthan government, UNFPA and UNICEF, a district-level Abhiyan Yatra was flagged off in Dausa for complete elimination of child marriages in the State. A call was given on the occasion to make Rajasthan child-marriage-free.

As part of ‘Sajha Abhiyan’  multiple stakeholders, interventions and sectors are converging to address child marriage in the State as a unified force. The yatra will bring the community on a united platform to work towards making the State child marriage-free. 

A significant aspect of the yatra is that it would apprise the people in the rural areas of the ill effects and harmful consequences of child marriage and convince them to get such marriages nullified if they have taken place in their families and neighbourhood.

3. Platforms such as the International Womens Day and the National Girl Child Day are used to create awareness on issues related to women and to bring to the centre stage issues such as child marriage.

4. UDAAN – PREVENTING ADOLESCENT PREGNANCY IN RAJASTHAN :To prevent adolescent pregnancy through a combined approach that keeps girls in school, improves their knowledge of and access to sexual and reproductive health; increases the basket of contraceptive choices, and changes social practices that perpetuate early marriage and adolescent pregnancy.

Solutions to prevent child marriage :

Educate Girls : According to UNICEF, one in three girls in low- to middle-income countries will marry before the age of 18. Many studies have shown that it is more than likely that a girl who marries as a child will come from a community where education for girls is not valued. She will more than likely be illiterate and will have little to no understanding of her human rights. Girls having access to both primary and secondary education will improve their chances of access to employment and a means of supporting themselves and then in turn their families. It is important to reach out to communities and help challenge traditional and discriminatory views on access to education. 

Empower Girls : In many countries where child marriage is prevalent, girls are often seen as economic burdens. Girls in households where boys are favoured often have low self-esteem and little confidence.Empowerment programmes for young girls are key to preventing child or early marriage by improving both their sense of self and self-efficacy through informing girls of their basic human rights, their legal right to refuse a marriage, and education programmes on health and sex education. Small scale studies have shown promising results from his programmes that make girl empowerment its central strategy –  the mean age of marriage of 14.5 years old has risen to 17 years old.

Educate Parents : Some parents from traditional communities believe that child marriage is a way of protecting their daughter: providing for her economically so she will be taken care of; safeguarding her from harassment and sexual violence before she reaches puberty, and preventing premarital sex which is still taboo in many countries across the world. Unfortunately, families often do not know the negative and harmful effects of early child marriage, including pregnancy at such a young age which can lead to many complications as a girl’s body will not be ready for childbirth. Such parents will benefit from being educated on the very serious harmful effects of forced early childhood marriage. 

Mobilise religious leaders and community elders : Religious elders and community leaders – nearly always men – are the decision makers in communities where early or child marriage is prevalent. Engaging and educating these powerful men is key to changing the attitude of a community on childhood marriage.

Support Adolescent Girls Who Are Already Married : Although the focus is on communities preventing child marriage, young girls who have already married also need support. As well as being isolated and having less chance to complete or continue their education, child marriage can put young girls at a higher risk of violence in the home- sexually, physically and psychologically

        Child marriage is an appalling violation of human rights and robs girls of their education, health and long-term prospects. A girl who is married as a child is one whose potential will not be fulfilled. Since many parents and communities also want the very best for their daughters, we must work together and end child marriage In Rajasthan, a government program called Apni Beti Apna Dhan offers parents a savings bond when a daughter is born that pays out only if she remains unmarried until after her 18th birthday. The International Center for Research on Women is evaluating the program to determine its impact on child marriage rates, a study that should be completed later this year. But anecdotal evidence suggests it's helping delay marriage for some girls.