Udaipur- Child marriage, defined as any formal or informal union where one or both parties are under 18, is a violation of human rights with severe consequences for health, education, and economic opportunities, particularly for girls.
India has made significant progress in reducing child marriage, with the prevalence among girls dropping from 47.4% in 2005–06 to 23.3% in 2019–21, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). However, states like Rajasthan continue to grapple with high rates, with 25.4% of women aged 20–24 in 2020–21 reporting marriage before 18, a reduction from 35.4% in 2015–16.
Despite legal frameworks like the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA), awareness campaigns, and investments in education and empowerment programs, child marriage persists, particularly in rural areas.
This report explores why states like Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh remain hotspots for this practice, using data from credible sources such as NFHS, UNICEF, and government reports, alongside insights from recent interventions in Udaipur.
On April 30, 2025, the Child Marriage Free India campaign in Udaipur division, Rajasthan, reported preventing 47 child marriages in a month-long drive, with 15 in Udaipur district, 15 in Chittorgarh, 13 in Pratapgarh, and 4 in Salumber.
This effort, led by the Just Rights for Children Alliance, district administration, District Legal Services Authority, Department of Child Empowerment, Gayatri Seva Sansthan, and Child Helpline, included a court-issued injunction under the PCMA in one case. Notably, public participation was significant, with community members reporting planned child marriages, reflecting growing awareness.
Dr. Shailendra Pandya, a child rights expert and former member of the Rajasthan Child Commission, emphasized the role of community-driven awareness campaigns. Kuldeep Sharma, Secretary of the Udaipur District Legal Services Authority, highlighted that not only is performing child marriage a crime, but aiding or abetting it—such as providing services like catering or priesthood—is also punishable. The campaign, set to continue until Peepal Purnima (May 12, 2025), highlights the ongoing challenge of curbing child marriage during culturally significant occasions like Akshaya Tritiya, when mass weddings are common.
Child marriage is concentrated in specific states, driven by socio-cultural traditions and economic factors. The following states report the highest rates:
Rajasthan: 25.4% of women aged 20–24 married before 18 (NFHS-5). Rural areas report 28.3%, compared to 15.1% in urban areas.
Bihar: Approximately 40% prevalence, one of the highest in India.
West Bengal: Nearly 40% prevalence, with significant rural-urban disparities.
Jharkhand: 14.1% of women aged 20–24 married before 18 (2009 data).
Uttar Pradesh: 8.9% prevalence in 2009, with high absolute numbers due to population size.
Others: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, and Tripura also report elevated rates.
Rajasthan’s 10 districts rank among the top 100 in India for child marriage prevalence, reflecting regional variations within the state.
Despite awareness campaigns, legal prohibitions, and investments in education, child marriage remains entrenched due to a complex interplay of socio-cultural, economic, and systemic factors.
Cultural Traditions: In Rajasthan, child marriage is an age-old tradition, often sanctioned by religious and cultural practices. For example, ceremonies like “marriage on a plate” at age five or group marriages during festivals like Akshaya Tritiya are common.
Gender Inequality: Patriarchal norms devalue girls, positioning them as assets for their in-laws rather than individuals with rights. Marriage is seen as a way to ensure chastity, protect against sexual violence, or secure social status.
Community Pressure: Social expectations and fear of stigma drive families to marry daughters early. In rural Rajasthan, villagers may ostracize girls who resist marriage, and informal social agents like khap panchayats reinforce these norms.
Inter-Generational Continuity: Parents who were married as children often replicate the practice, perceiving it as normal. In Bikaner, Rajasthan, girls as young as 12–13 are married but may stay with parents until Gauna (consummation) at 14–15.
Poverty: Poverty is a primary driver, with 63% of girls in the lowest wealth quintile married before 18, compared to 10% in the highest. Families marry daughters to reduce economic burdens or secure dowry/bride price.
Financial Insecurity: Economic shocks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increased child marriages by 17% in 2020, as families faced job losses and debt.
Cost of Weddings: In Rajasthan, group marriages (samoohik-vivah) are economically viable for poor families, often leading to multiple siblings being married simultaneously, regardless of age.
Low Female Literacy: Rajasthan’s gender gap in literacy (male: 80.8%, female: 57.6% as per NFHS-5) limits girls’ agency and awareness. Girls with no education are 77% likely to marry before 18, compared to 27% with secondary education.
School Dropout: Girls are often pulled out of school for domestic duties or marriage, particularly in rural areas. Education interventions, while effective, are costly ($3,200–$5,900 per girl) compared to direct child marriage programs ($12–$22 per girl).
Cultural Prioritization: Families prioritize boys’ education, viewing girls’ schooling as secondary to marriage.
Underreporting: Awareness of the PCMA leads to underreporting, as families conduct secret marriages at night or in hidden locations.
Implementation Challenges: Police and local authorities face resistance, including threats and violence, when intervening in tribal or rural areas.
Legal Loopholes: The PCMA makes child marriages voidable only at the child’s instance after reaching majority, reducing deterrence.
Community Collusion: Local leaders, priests, and service providers often participate in child marriages, complicating enforcement.
Positive Impact: Campaigns like Say No to Child Marriage, Yes to School by ActionAid and Naubat Baja by UNFPA have increased awareness, with some villages pledging to end the practice.
Limitations: Awareness alone is insufficient against entrenched norms. In Barmer, Rajasthan, students as young as 10 admitted to being married during awareness sessions, highlighting the gap between knowledge and practice.
Resistance: Campaigns face backlash in conservative communities, where interventions are seen as interference with tradition.
Progress: Programs like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana have increased girls’ school attendance and delayed marriages in some areas.
Challenges: High costs and uneven implementation limit scale. Rural areas, where 28.3% of girls marry before 18 in Rajasthan, have less access to these programs.
Social Diffusion: Educated districts show lower child marriage rates, but spillover effects are slow in conservative regions.
The consequences of child marriage are profound. Girls married before 18 are more likely to drop out of school, face health risks from early pregnancy, and experience domestic violence. Their children face nutritional and developmental challenges, perpetuating poverty.
To address this, stronger law enforcement, subsidized education, economic support through cash transfers, and community engagement with local leaders are essential. Sustained campaigns, improved marriage registration, and targeted interventions in high-prevalence districts can further reduce prevalence, ensuring India meets its goal of eliminating child marriage by 2030.
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