Chhattisgarh’s Surajpur district, with UNICEF support, has declared 75 panchayats “Child Marriage-Free” by mobilizing Anganwadi workers and communities. The successful two-year campaign, now adopted as the ‘Surajpur Model,’ drives the state’s mission for a “Child Marriage-Free State.”
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Picture Courtesy: PIB
Surajpur district in Chhattisgarh declared 75 panchayats “child marriage-free”, with not a single case reported in the last two years.
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Read all about: CHILD MARRIAGE |
Definition: Child marriage refers to a marriage (formal or informal) where either party is below the legal minimum age:
Child marriage is not merely a violation of law; it violates multiple fundamental rights and human rights:
It hampers social progress, perpetuates poverty, and undermines gender equality.
Global Trends
Sub-Saharan Africa: 40% of women married before 18.
South Asia: 30% (but fastest decline in last decade).
India contributes one-third of the world’s child brides.
India-Specific (National Family Health Survey-5; 2019-21)
23.3% of women (20–24 yrs) married before 18.
Decline from 47% in 2006 to 23.3% in 2019–21.
West Bengal, Bihar and Tripura top the list with more than 40% of women aged 20-24 years married below 18.
SC/ST girls (26%) most vulnerable.
Teenage pregnancy highest in Goa (64%), Mizoram (61%), and Meghalaya (53%) among those married early.
Impacts of Child Marriage
Health impacts
Reproductive health: Young brides are at higher risk for early pregnancy, leading to dangerous complications and higher rates of maternal and infant mortality.
Chronic diseases: Child marriage is linked to a higher risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) later in life, such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease.
Malnutrition and anemia: NFHS-5 data reveals 57% anemia rates among women, child brides suffering greater malnutrition.
Educational and economic impacts
Cycle of poverty: Child marriage stops a girl's education, reducing her earning potential and perpetuating an intergenerational cycle of poverty.
Reduced opportunities: With limited skills and education, child brides have fewer job prospects and remain financially dependent, trapping families in a low-income bracket.
National economic costs: At a societal level, child marriage contributes to lost productivity and stunted economic growth.
Psychosocial impacts
Loss of childhood: Child marriage ends a girl's childhood, replacing play and education with adult responsibilities for which she is unprepared.
Isolation and disempowerment: Brides are isolated from family and friends, leading to loneliness, depression, and loss of autonomy and decision-making power.
Domestic violence: Child brides are more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. NFHS-5 data shows child brides face higher rates of physical, sexual, and emotional violence from their husbands.
Poverty and Dowry: Families view girls as economic liabilities; marrying early reduces perceived burden.
Cultural and Patriarchal Norms: Preserving “family honour” and fear of premarital relationships fuel early marriages.
Education Gaps: Right To Education (RTE) Act mandates schooling only till 14 years; dropout at 15–16 strongly correlates with child marriage.
Insecurity: Weak law-and-order in rural areas makes parents view marriage as “protection” for girls.
Legal Loopholes: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, makes child marriages voidable at the option of the contracting party (not automatically void). Enforcement remains weak.
Patriarchy & Gender Inequality: Girls seen as burdens; little investment in their education or empowerment.
Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006
Replaced 1929 Act.
Defines legal age (girls 18, boys 21).
Marriages voidable; maintenance provisions included.
Punishments: 2 years imprisonment + ₹1 lakh fine.
Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) appointed.
Schemes & Campaigns
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (2015)
National Action Plan to Prevent Child Marriage
Childline (1098) emergency service
UNICEF collaborations in high-prevalence states
Community Participation
Anganwadi workers, Panchayat representatives, voluntary organizations, and families were mobilized.
Awareness drives, dialogues on education and child rights, and preventive interventions created a shift in mindset.
Integration with Health & Nutrition Goals
The campaign linked child marriage eradication with maternal and child health outcomes.
Highlighted how delayed marriages reduce maternal mortality, anemia, and malnutrition.
Administrative Willpower
Surajpur’s district administration ensured strict monitoring and immediate action on any reported case.
Social Recognition
Panchayats were awarded “Child Marriage-Free” certificates, similar to the Open Defecation Free (ODF) model under Swachh Bharat Mission.
Broader Significance
Demonstrated that laws alone are insufficient—change comes when society takes ownership.
Reinforced the idea that grassroots campaigns can dismantle deeply rooted social evils.
Legal and Institutional Strengthening
Make all child marriages void ab initio (automatically void).
Special fast-track courts for speedy justice.
Strengthen accountability of CMPOs, collectors, and police.
Education and Empowerment
Extend RTE Act till 18 years, making secondary education compulsory.
Link scholarships, skill-training, and cash incentives to girls’ schooling.
Community and Social Mobilisation
Scale up “Child Marriage Free Panchayat” model like Surajpur.
Involve religious leaders, teachers, youth clubs for mass awareness.
Campaigns like Swachh Bharat for mindset change.
Economic Incentives
Conditional cash transfers for delaying marriage beyond 18.
Strengthen schemes like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and skill-development for adolescent girls.
Health and Nutrition Linkages
Integrate child marriage prevention with Poshan Abhiyaan, Anemia Mukt Bharat.
Promote adolescent health programs (e.g., weekly iron-folic acid supplementation).
Technology and Data
Create a centralized reporting portal for child marriage.
Use data analytics to identify hotspots and intervene swiftly.
Leverage social media for spreading awareness.
Surajpur model demonstrates that when administrative commitment, community participation, and awareness campaigns converge, entrenched practices can be uprooted.
Source: PIB
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. Despite laws against child marriage, the practice persists in many parts of India. What are the major reasons for this persistence? 150 words |
Child marriage is a marriage where one or both partners are below the legal age of 18 years, often forced or arranged without consent.
Currently, 21 years for men and 18 years for women (Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006). A proposal is under discussion to raise women’s age to 21.
It leads to early pregnancies, health risks, maternal and child mortality, loss of education, domestic violence, and gender inequality.
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