There are laws, but are everyone getting justice? India is the most progressive law in the world against child marriage. But what is the reality of implementation of this at the ground level? It was investigated by India Child Protection (ICP), and the study revealed shocking conclusions. The ICP results from analysis of data from the 2011 Census, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21) that three girls are forcibly married every minute in India, while in 2022, only three cases were registered at an average of child marriage daily. In most cases, the groom was over 21 years of age. That is, the law is being violated on a large scale and criminals are escaping.
In such a situation, there is a news shocking the heart and mind on the prior of the International Women’s Day that a 14-year-old innocent girl was forcibly married to a 29-year-old man and despite the strict resistance of the girl, she took her like a pet. That is, in front of everyone, the crime of child marriage in front of everyone and the crime of kidnapping an innocent girl in front of everyone. This news reveals the bitter truth of the insensitive society where there is no value for the dreams of daughters and their future.
Obviously, the situation should change. For the protection and protection of child rights, the ICP, an associate organization of ‘Just Rights for Children’, the biggest network of more than 250 civil organizations working on land in more than 50,000 sensitive villages of 416 districts of 26 states of the country, said in its recommendations that prevention of crimes against children, prevention and rescue, rehabilitation of children and rescue, ensure the victims and implement law Is because they act as resistance. For example, when the laws started strictly implemented in Assam, the trend of child marriage decreased by 81 percent.
Today India is standing at the point where the leadership of women and the laws strictly implement the possibility of permanent change. Those who are working on the land are clearly listening to this change. They are aware that there are daughters in every corner of the country who are standing firmly against their lives and dreams on the pretext of child marriage.
Conversion power of female leadership
One of them is Sonu, 27, from Ajmer, Rajasthan who was wearing a wedding couple at the age of just 12. In the cost of the expenses of a procession, her parents did not even bother to ask her what she wanted. She was married on the same day with her elder sister. Despite becoming the mother of three daughters at the age of seventeen, she and her husband decided that their daughters would not face problems with whom they had passed away.
Yesterday’s helpless Sonu has become a warrior today. Her courage and resolve is inspiring all the girls and women who are standing unitedly against child marriage. He believes that “we do not inherit our earth from our ancestors, but borrow it from our children.” Therefore, she is firm on the resolve that after coming to the information, she will not allow anyone to snatch a daughter’s childhood. Sonu is an example of how important the leadership of women and girls is to prevent misdeeds like child marriage. Their participation, cooperation, economic empowerment, awareness and education play an important role in this fight.
Like Sonu, Alka Sahu of Ganjam district of Odisha also saw the plight of the girls of his community and took steps to stop it. He established an NGO called “Seva” and filed a PIL in the Supreme Court of India demanding a ban on growing child marriage in the country. This petition not only raised his voice against the ignoring of this crime but also ensured that this fight would be fought under his leadership who is a victim.
Child Marriage Free India: Start a revolution
The victims have a unique approach and experience, which enables them to develop effective solutions for other girls and women. In various regions and cultures of India, this movement, led by women like Sonu and Alka, is challenging the virtue of deep roots like child marriage. Moving forward with self -reliance and confidence every day, the voice of our mothers, sisters and daughters, which arose against child marriage across India, is the biggest evidence of women’s empowerment on International Women’s Day today. These women are changing the social system with their efforts, experience and strong will. She is fighting not only for herself, but for every daughter, who is held in the bond of marriage without her will. In the last two years, this campaign has gained momentum with the help of girls, their families, civil society organizations and government institutions. On 27 November 2024, Smt Annapurna Devi, Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of India, launched the world’s biggest campaign called “Bal Marriage Free India” against child marriage. This campaign has so far received the support of more than 26 crore Indians.
This is not just a campaign, but a social taunting revolution, which will ensure protecting every girl’s dreams and future. This proves that when women lead, society progresses. It is possible from their perspective that we can change the beliefs of society and end the practices like child marriage forever. The women standing in the next line in this campaign are clear that now shame will have to change its direction. Shame should now come to those criminals who carry out disgusting functions like rape and child marriage and not the victims. For this, a change in the mindset of the society is necessary which embarrasses the victim instead of a criminal and sees them with a good vision for the crime with them. The victims need justice, not to be embarrassed for sympathy or injustice. Fear should be those who commit crime thinking that nothing will deteriorate. To establish the rule of law, it is an important condition that people fear the law that if they commit crimes, they will not be able to avoid punishment.
Need for collective efforts
The government’s schemes promoting skill development and education among adolescent girls are making positive changes. The World Bank report says that if the participation of women in India’s workforce becomes 50%, then the GDP of the country can increase by 1.5%.
For this, the leadership class i.e. community leaders, political representatives, judiciary and religious leaders will have to unite and ensure the safety of children. It is the responsibility of every citizen to report the events of child marriage in any case and cooperate in providing education and opportunities to every girl. India is moving towards an important goal of ending child marriage by 2030, which is the most important part of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Women and girls are advancing this struggle against child marriage. But all sections of civil society like legislature, executive, judiciary, student, farmer, businessman will have to become part of this transformational movement. The Central Government’s resolve to ‘Children’s Marriage Open India’ will be able to come true only by the efforts of those dedicated women leaders and workers who are sending a message from the farm barns of schools, panchayats, villages to poor settlements that no more- crimes against children, especially child sexual abuse and child marriage, will not be tolerated.
Disclaimer (Disclaimer): The ideas expressed in this article are personal views of the author.
(The author is the famous child rights activist, advocate and the founder of ‘Just Rights for Children’, one of the largest networks of civilian organizations for safety and protection of child rights)