Akshaya Tritiya Day,Tthousands of Children Marry

Akshaya Tritiya: Hotbed of child marriages

On the Auspicious Day of 'Akshaya Tritiya', Thousands of Child Brides Become Victims of Early Marriage in India.

Last Modifies 4 May 2012

Summary

UNICEF's State of the World's Children 2012 report says that more than 40 per cent of the world's child marriages happen in India. Even though the extent of early marriage varies from countries and regions, the highest rate is found in West Africa, followed by South Asia. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is reported as saying child marriage is "a practice that robs millions of girls of their childhood, their rights and their dignity. I find it astounding that this issue does not receive far greater attention. Together, we and our partners commit to working together to end it." There is a difference between urban and rural areas. Union health ministry's Family Welfare Statistics  suggest that, "for every woman aged below 18 getting married in urban areas, three women are getting married in rural areas". Often the men these girls marry are more twice their age. Narmada, who worked as an agricultural laborer, was just 12 when her family arranged her engagement to a 45-year-old man who was already married. Poverty also plays a key role in child marriages. In communities where economic transactions are integral to the marriage process, a dowry is often welcome income for poor families. Where poverty exists, giving a daughter in marriage allows parents to reduce family expenses, ensuring they have one less person to provide for, Oberdof explained. The children of child brides are "60 per cent more likely to die before their first birthday than the children of mothers who are over 19", said Oberdof. These young brides are also at a higher risk for domestic violence. These arrangements stifle the girls’ opportunities to go to school and realize their own potential beyond being a wife and mother. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006) will give two years of imprisonment or a penalty of Rs100,000 ($1,900), or both, for those guilty of marrying girls younger than 18. The law still remains unimplemented in many tribal districts in the country. While mass child marriages - such as those seen in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh - do not happen in all states, many girls end up getting married in their early teens.Ending child marriage is a challenge; even parents who are aware of its negative impacts find it difficult to resist the heavy weight of tradition. "Moreover, economic and social pressures compel them to get their daughters married off at a tender age," Dickinson told Al Jazeera. 

Synthesis

Education is a central part of child brides. In many communities where child marriage is practiced, girls are not valued as much as boys. Females in general are seen as second class citizens. In cultures that have economic importance attached to marriage and significant expense attached to raising a female child, child marriage may seem like a viable option. Unfortunately parents may not see how this practice is mentally, emotionally, and socially repressive. The fear that educated girls may become difficult control may also be a contributing factor. If parents in these areas become educated about the harm they are doing to their children they may be more reluctant to marry their young girls off. Also if the parents and societies practicing this realize that educated females will become more of an asset to them and the society in the long run a perhaps then participation of child weddings will decline significantly.

Child marriage could be identified by international agencies as a human rights violation, and a barrier to achieving development goals. Improving girls' access to quality schooling would help shift norms around child marriage, report experts.