Question : CHILD MARRIAGE

(a) whether the National Commission for Women proposes to extend their activities in rural areas especially to examine cases of child marriage which are increasing;

(b) if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the reaction of the government thereto?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI KANTI SINGH)

(a)&(b) During 2002-03 and 2003-04, the National Commission for Women launched Bal Vivah Virodh Abhiyan and in 2004-05 the Commission has asked the State Governments to take steps to curb child marriages. The Commission has also recently asked the State Governments of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, where child marriages have been reported around Akshaya Teej, to take earnest steps to create awareness against child marriage and to take strong administrative action to prevent child marriages. The Department of Women and Child Development has also written to State Governments to take steps to stop child marriages.

(c) The Government has taken several steps to eliminate child marriages from the country. Such as,


(i) State Governments have been asked for strict implementation of Child Marriage (Restraint) Act, 1929;


(ii) State Governments have been asked to take necessary measures to prevent child marriages in their States;


(iii) The proposal for amendment to the Child Marriage (Restraint) Act, 1929 is presently under consideration of a Parliamentary Standing Committee;


(iv) NHRC is also taking steps at its level to address the issue;


(v) A strong media campaign is being launched by the Department of Women and Child Development especially to target prevention of child marriages in the forthcoming festival season of Akshaya Teej.