Child Marriage: A Tragic End of Childhood
- Hannah Malcolm
- Oct 16, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 4
Part 1 of 3
I pledge to do all that I can to end child marriage so that every girl is safe, free, and educated. I will oppose any child marriage that is scheduled to take place in our family, amongst our relatives or in the neighborhood. I will report to the concerned authorities if child marriage takes place at any place known to me. — Pledge for a child marriage free India by SFIRD
by Hannah Malcolm
During my first trip to India, I visited the Yenadi community in Naidupet. Having grown up my whole life in the United States, the severity of the strife around the world was foreign to me but would become a very startling reality upon spending time with the Yenadis.
I had been handing out some items to people when I was told, “Thank you, Akka,” by a woman who was about 8 months pregnant — the word “Akka” means older sister in Telugu. I stood there, frozen, realizing from her words she was no more than 15 years old, and yet was carrying a child in such conditions. Later I would find out that she, as well as most of the girls amongst the Yenadis at Naidupet and more all around India, were child brides.
▲ Mothers take the pledge to end child marriages on behalf of children.
Child Marriage: A Social Concern
For many of us, the thought of child marriage seems ancient and alien. However, in many parts of the world the perpetuation of this practice plagues several generations. Every day, more children are being sucked into a system that leaves no room for hope or a future. This disproportionately affects young girls, with about a third of the cases worldwide occurring in India — about 223 million child brides (UNICEF 2020).
As of 2021, one in five girls and one in six boys in India are being married below the legal age of 18 (Gausman, et al. 2024). This adds to the other existing issues, whether it be lack of education, sanitation, or healthcare. Many of these children become victims of maternal death, rape, trafficking, and they never know a future with any other alternative.
Here and in a series of blog posts to come, we will dive into three main aspects affected by child marriage, the first being the social aspects of the matter.
Social pressures on marriage are overwhelming for those in rural areas. For many communities, child marriage is seen as a natural part of life and the most sensible option for both boys and girls. In these regions, girls are ready to be married once they are phyiscally mature. While that may seem insane and illogical to many of us, this stems from a dearth of education and resources caused by an existing systemic cycle that must be broken.
With threats of trafficking and sexual abuse being rampant in these communities, marriage is often seen as the safest way out and also gives families another source of income for financial stability. Sadly, many of those married as children still find themselves victims of these violent crimes.
In communities like the Yenadis, many of them marry by the age of 12. Since such early marriage prevents any chance of education, many turn to drugs and alcohol as means of recreation or as a coping mechanism. Additionally, the lack of education leads to a grim job outlook.
Child Marriage: How do we end it?
The Indian government has taken great measures to ensure the protection of children around the nation. With one of the most comprehensive legal systems regarding child protections, many bills and laws have been passed that aim to put an end to this issue (Ribhu 2023). Among these is the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill of 2021, which stipulates that no person under 21 may be married. These interventions have contributed to a 30% decrease in child marriage over the last 10 years (UNICEF, 2020).
Along with the regulations set in place by the Indian government, Society For Integrated Rural Development (SFIRD) and Restoration Humanity (RH) are working to ensure that these children are liberated and live a rich and fulfilled life primarily through education, the availability of healthcare, skills training for parents and the provision of proper living conditions.
▲ In the Mandal Prashad Primary School, students take a pledge to stay in school and not marry until 18 years of age.
▲ Children from a village in Bapatla reaffirming their pledge for a "child marriage free India."
▲ School children from other schools take part in the "child marriage free India" pledge.
SFIRD is spreading a message of hope, promise and fulfillment by encouraging, empowering and enabling future generations to remain steadfast in their oath to help eradicate child marriage. By regularly visiting schools and villages, both parents and children are constantly reminded that there is an alternative and a better path. SFIRD and RH are continuously working so that the Yenadi children can have the resources needed to be able to achieve the breakthrough for the generations to come.
Children are the future. Their young minds, hearts, and innocence must be regarded with utmost sanctity. Far too many young lives have been lost to the tragedies of child marriage, losing their innocence and futures. Empowering them is the first step in making them realize that every single person is destined for something greater than they can ever imagine.
Marriage cannot and should not be a priority for any person so young. The children of tomorrow need not be having children of their own, but instead should have a bright future while enjoying their childhood. With a strong foundation upon which these children can stand, they can break the chains of bondage from child marriage that has held them captive for generations.
Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.” — Nelson Mandela
Sources:
All images used with written permission from Society of Integrated Rural Development.
Gausman, J., Kim, R., Kumar, A., Ravi, S., & Subramanian, S. V. (2024). Prevalence of girl and boy child marriage across states and Union Territories in India, 1993-2021: a repeated cross-sectional study. The Lancet. Global health, 12(2), e271–e281. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(23)00470-9
Ribhu, Bhuwan. When Children Have Children. New Dehli, Prabhat Prakashan Books, 2023
Society of Integrated Rural Development. Child Marriage Free India,
Subiksha, P. and Kannappan, M. (2018). A Study on Child Trafficking in India. International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics, 119(17), http://www.acadpubl.eu/hub/
The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, No. 15/LN/Ref./June 2022
UNFPA-UNICEF Country Profile: India (2020).
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