“Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” Campaign

Syllabus: GS1/Society; GS2/Social Issues; Vulnerable Sections

Context

• In a significant step towards eradicating child marriage and empowering young girls across the nation, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development launched the national campaign “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat”.

About

• Focused Approach: The campaign will prioritize seven states with high rates of child marriage: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Community Engagement: The campaign will involve community mobilization and awareness-raising activities to change societal norms and attitudes towards child marriage. Action plan aimed at reducing the child marriage rates below 5% by 2029 was launched. 
• Legal Empowerment: The campaign will strengthen the legal framework to prevent and punish child marriage, including stricter enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
• Digital Platform: A dedicated online portal will enable citizens to report child marriage incidents and access information about legal remedies.

Status of Child Marriage in India

• According to the latest data, child marriages in India have halved from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 23.3% in 2019-21.
  • This decline is attributed to the implementation of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) in 2006 and various awareness campaigns like Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Child Marriage-Free India Campaign).
• As per the NFHS-5 data, there has been a substantial decrease in child marriage rates, from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 26.8% in 2015-16.
• Despite the overall decline, certain states like West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura still report higher rates of child marriage compared to the national average.

Key Reasons Behind Child Marriages in India

• Poverty and Economic Pressures: Families in economically disadvantaged situations often view marriage as a means to alleviate financial burdens.
  • Marrying off daughters early can reduce the economic strain on the family, as it means one less mouth to feed and can sometimes involve a dowry that provides immediate financial relief.
• Cultural and Social Norms: In many communities, early marriage is seen as a rite of passage and a way to preserve family honor.
  • These deeply ingrained beliefs make it challenging to change attitudes towards child marriage.
• Gender Inequality and Patriarchy: Patriarchal values and gender inequality contribute to the prevalence of child marriages.
  • Girls are often seen as a burden, and their primary role is perceived to be that of a wife and mother. 
  • It limits their opportunities for education and personal growth, making early marriage a common outcome.
• Lack of Education: The lack of educational opportunities leaves girls vulnerable to early marriage, as families may prioritise marriage over schooling.
  • Educated girls are more likely to delay marriage and have better prospects for their future.
• Fear of Sexual Assault: In some regions, the fear of sexual assault and the desire to protect a girl’s chastity can lead families to marry off their daughters at a young age.
  • This protective measure is often misguided and results in the violation of the girl’s rights and freedoms.
• Weak Law Enforcement: Despite the existence of laws prohibiting child marriage, enforcement remains weak in many areas.
  • Corruption, lack of awareness, and inadequate resources for law enforcement agencies contribute to the continued practice of child marriage.
  • Strengthening the implementation of laws and ensuring accountability is essential to curbing this issue.
• Pandemic-Induced Economic Hardship:The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated economic hardships for many families, leading to an increase in child marriages.
  • The financial strain caused by the pandemic forced some families to resort to early marriage as a coping mechanism.

Related Initiatives

• Legal Provision: The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006: It is the primary law addressing the child marriage in India, which replaced the earlier Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.
  • Minimum Age of Marriage: The PCMA sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 for women and 21 for men.
  • Punishments: Those who perform, conduct, or direct any child marriage can face rigorous imprisonment up to two years and/or a fine up to one lakh rupees.
  • Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs): The act mandates the appointment of CMPOs to prevent child marriages, create awareness, and ensure the law’s implementation.
• Supreme Court’s Stance: The Supreme Court of India has emphasised that the PCMA cannot be overridden by personal laws, asserting that child marriages violate minors’ free will to choose their life partners.
  • The court has also issued guidelines for the effective implementation of the law, stressing the need for community-driven approaches and multi-sectoral coordination.
• The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Child Marriage-Free India Campaign) aims to further reduce child marriage rates below 5% by 2029.
  • It focuses on high-burden states such as West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh, which have higher rates of child marriage compared to the national average.
  • It emphasizes a multi-faceted approach, including Education Continuity, Skill Development; Health and Nutrition; and Safety and Security etc.
  • The launch of the Child Marriage Free Bharat portal is a significant step in this direction. It serves as a platform to raise awareness, report cases, and monitor progress.

Source: TH