"It's all about Partnerships. Forced partnership don't make good marriages."-Allan Milbradt

"Child, early, and forced marriage," according to UN Conventions and Resolutions, is a basic violation of human rights. Marriage before the age of 18 is regarded as a detrimental practice since it denies females the right to the best possible general, sexual, and reproductive health, as well as a life free of violence. Underage marriage also hinders the development of physical, emotional, and personal maturity necessary for a smooth transition to adulthood. It restricts life's opportunities, such as the right to an education, freedom and most important right to live a healthy lifestyle.

What Is Child Marriage?

Child marriage according to Indian law is a union of 2 individuals before becoming a major i.e. under the age of 18. This formal contract of marriage either takes place between 2minors or a minor & an adult. In both cases it's observed that the girl is in most disadvantageous position. The majority of child marriages involve females, many of whom are from low-income families. Its horrific to even imagine a girl of the age group 8-12years marrying a man of her father or grandfather's age! Even today, more than 47 percent of minor girls in India marry before the age of 18, making India the country with the highest number of child brides in the world. Bihar and Rajasthan are the most backward states, with the highest number of child marriages in the country. While the number of girls marrying before the age of 15 is decreasing, more girls marry between the ages of 15 and 18.

Why Child Marriage?

Child marriage is frequently the result of entrenched gender inequality, affecting girls disproportionately. Child marriage is only one-sixth as common among boys as it is among girls worldwide. Child marriage deprives girls of their childhood while also endangering their lives and health. Girls who marry before the age of 18 are more likely to experience domestic violence and are less likely to continue their education.

They have worse economic and health outcomes than their unmarried counterparts, which are eventually passed down to their own children, putting a country's capacity to provide quality health and education services under further strain. Child brides frequently become pregnant during adolescence, when the risk of complication during pregnancy and childbirth rises – for both themselves and their children. Following this method has a negative impact on Indian economy leading to intergenerational cycle of poverty.

Aversion Of Child Marriage

To stop this heinous act of marrying off kids, Indian society have showed immense growth in these past years. This is possible only by empowering girls by giving them opportunity to study & learn about their rights & freedom in the society; working with families and the larger community to raise awareness of the negative consequences of child marriage can change perspectives. Laws are made to avert the tradition of child marriage by introducing new acts like Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006.

The government launched programmes such as 'Beti Bachao, BetiPadhao' to provide safety and education to girls. Other initiatives, such as 'Ladli, Laxmi Ladli' and the Kishori Shakti Yojana,' address issues such as female feticide and education, respectively.

UNICEF and UNFPA launched the Global Programme to End Child Marriage in 2016. Ending child marriage will help to achieve the Goals by increasing access to education and encouraging economic growth.

Conclusion:
Child marriage not only jeopardizes a girl child's basic rights to freedom and life, but it also jeopardizes her reproductive health. We propose that addressing early marriage will likely have an impact on a wide range of health and social issues, including women's poor status. Marriage is both a cultural practice that reflects both men & women's social position.

The "gateway" to the numerous health problems connected with the timing of childbearing is marriage. It's also a predictor of human capital punishment, which has its own set of health effects. In cases of child marriage, both maternal and infant mortality rates are high. Lawmakers and law enforcement must address this critical issue if children are to be protected and kept safe.

Reference:

• Child Marriage in India: Facts & Figures - Save the Children