New Delhi: women’s rights The groups have been divided in response to the government’s proposal to amend the prohibition of child marriage Act, 2006, to increase the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years.
While a section sees this as a progressive move to empower women with “choice”, there are voices of concern that the move could result in increased criminalization of poor families who may be forced out by circumstances. marry Girls above 18 years of age but below 21 years of age are also extended after ageing. They cite poverty and lack of access to quality health and education as major challenges that need to be addressed, such as early marriage and malnutrition.
Ranjana Kumari supporting the proposed law social research center “Many girls will be able to complete their education up to graduation and employment will increase, maternal mortality will decrease as well as infant mortality rate and child marriage will decrease,” the said. However, he added that “it will be the responsibility of the government to make it acceptable as a social norm.”
Opposing the decision, Enakshi Ganguly, a human rights activist and co-founder of HAQ: Center for Child Rights, said, “penal laws do not create social change.” They also expressed apprehensions that more adolescents and youth are at greater risk of delinquency if the age of marriage is amended.
Renu Singh, Country Director of Young Lives India, supported the decision, saying that her interventions and research show that “(there is a significant difference in the psychological well-being of child brides and those who marry at the age of 21, later (showing a lot) higher marks than child brides. There is a significant difference in the average salary of child brides and those who get married after the age of 21,” she said.
While a section sees this as a progressive move to empower women with “choice”, there are voices of concern that the move could result in increased criminalization of poor families who may be forced out by circumstances. marry Girls above 18 years of age but below 21 years of age are also extended after ageing. They cite poverty and lack of access to quality health and education as major challenges that need to be addressed, such as early marriage and malnutrition.
Ranjana Kumari supporting the proposed law social research center “Many girls will be able to complete their education up to graduation and employment will increase, maternal mortality will decrease as well as infant mortality rate and child marriage will decrease,” the said. However, he added that “it will be the responsibility of the government to make it acceptable as a social norm.”
Opposing the decision, Enakshi Ganguly, a human rights activist and co-founder of HAQ: Center for Child Rights, said, “penal laws do not create social change.” They also expressed apprehensions that more adolescents and youth are at greater risk of delinquency if the age of marriage is amended.
Renu Singh, Country Director of Young Lives India, supported the decision, saying that her interventions and research show that “(there is a significant difference in the psychological well-being of child brides and those who marry at the age of 21, later (showing a lot) higher marks than child brides. There is a significant difference in the average salary of child brides and those who get married after the age of 21,” she said.
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