Uttar Pradesh leads the seven northern states with maximum number of child marriages at 13.5 lakh. (source: Express/Sakshi Dayal) Uttar Pradesh leads the seven northern states with maximum number of child marriages at 13.5 lakh. (source: Express/Sakshi Dayal)

A child rights group has demanded extension of the age limit under Right to Education Act to include all children below 18 years of age in order to ensure better literacy and reduce child marriages. In its analysis of Census 2011, Child Rights and You (CRY) states that as many as 45 million people currently married in seven northern states – J&K, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh – tied the knot before they turned 18.

Uttar Pradesh leads the seven northern states with maximum number of child marriages at 13.5 lakh. Rajasthan is at the top in terms of maximum number of people falling prey to the age-old custom at 1.6 crore.

The CRY appeal comes close on the heels of the Centre justifying in the Delhi High Court why it does not criminalise sexual acts between a man and a minor between 16 to 18 years of age even though child marriages are prohibited. In its submission the Centre cited “social realities”.

The Centre had told the High Court, “It has been decided to retain the age of fifteen years under exception 2 of section 375 (rape) of the IPC so as to give protection to husband and wife against criminalising the sexual activity between them.”

“…Although the age of consent is eighteen years and child marriage is discouraged, marriage below the permissible age is avoidable but not void in law on account of social realities.”

Soha Moitra, Regional Director, CRY says, “Child marriage is deeply entrenched in patriarchy, poverty and illiteracy and is widely practiced under the garb of tradition, culture and protection.”

“…Even now child marriages continue to be addressed as a social evil and not seen as a violation of child rights. It not only denies them access to education but also makes young girls vulnerable to abuse and domestic violence.”

CRY cites lack of education as one of “the major hurdles in the abolition of child marriage.” It states, “Annual average dropout rate for the country at the primary level is 4.34 per cent. This figure jumped to 18 per cent at the secondary level. Children falling in the 14-18 year bracket are outside the purview of the RTE Act and are therefore most prone to dropping out of school.”

“…These children in turn become most vulnerable to child marriage, trafficking and child labour, particularly girls.”

In fact, according to the analyses, instances of child marriage among girls is four times more than among boys, with 7 per cent of boys and a whopping 30 per cent of girls falling prey to this practice. The national average for the same is 19 per cent. 1.6 crore people married before turning 18 in Rajasthan account for 30 per cent of total current married population in the state. It is followed by MP with 26 per cent, UP at 21 per cent, Haryana at 20 per cent, Delhi at 16 per cent, J&K at 10 and Punjab at 7.

CRY also talks about health issues that arise out of child marriages.

“The fact that there are several health risks attached to this age-old practice is something that is still not acknowledged seriously.”

“…Child marriage culminates into premature pregnancy often leading to high maternal and infant deaths. There is also a risk of giving birth to low weight babies which in a long term can lead to malnutrition,” a press statement said.

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