(a) the factors responsible for prevalence of child
marriages in the country;
(b) the number of child marriage cases registered as per
National Family Health Survey (NFHS) during the last three
years and the current year in the country, State-wise;
(c) whetherthe Government proposes to amend or strengthen
the existing Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the steps taken by the Government to prevent child marriages?
MINISTER OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
(SHRIMATI KRISHNA TIRATH)
(a) to (e): Some of the factors responsible for prevalence of child
marriages in the country are:the lack of education and awareness
about effects of child marriage, concerns about safety of the girl
child, social customs, poor implementation of the law etc.
As per National Family Health Survey III (NFHS)(2005-06), the
percentage of girls getting married by the age of 18are enclosed
at Annex-I.
The Government has written to State Governments of Andhra Pradesh,
Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh,
Orissa, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh,
Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tripura and Uttar Pradesh to appoint
Prohibition Officer under the Act, frames Rules and to take all
possible steps to prevent child marriage, particularly, on the
occasion of ‘AkhaTeej’ (AkshyaTritiya’).
Besides, National Commission for Women (NCW) has requested the
State Chief Ministers to sensitize and gear up the concerned
machinery of the State Governments against those involved in the
incidence of child marriage.
Further, workshops, seminars and legal awareness camps are
organised in various States including Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to spread awareness and bring
attitudinal changes to prevent child marriage.
The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act has been made effective from
November 2007. Currently, under the provision of the Act, marriage
involving minors has not been declared invalid. The penalties are
provided only for those who promote its solemnisation. The effect
of the provisions of the Act become clearer after the results of
2011 Census are published. Being a social evil, spreading
education and creating awareness at the grass root level is
equally essential.