Child marriage is a social evil that affects millions of girls and boys in India. The latest census shows over 10 million child brides and 4 million child grooms in the country. Child marriage violates the rights of children to education, health, safety, and dignity. They run the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, early pregnancy, domestic abuse, & assault as well.
The legal age of marriage in India is 18 for girls and 21 for boys, as per the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) of 2006. Factors like caste, inequality, religion, and customs often lead to legal breaches. The PCMA’s loopholes, including parental consent for those over 16 and a lack of penalties, allow child marriage to continue.
In recent years, there have been several legal interventions to challenge and prevent child marriage in India. Some of the notable cases are:
Judges, NGOs, campaigners, and lawyers fighting child marriage in India have been instrumental in this legal victory. Some of the prominent NGOs that are involved in this cause are:
My Abhinandan is a skill development NGO in India that works for child education, environment, and women empowerment. My Abhinandan offers a wide range of services, from maternal healthcare and pediatric care to reproductive health services. Their Abhinandan offers care and training classes to help the poor.
Save the Children is an international NGO advocating for children’s rights and welfare in over 120 countries. Save a Child solves child marriage by reducing poverty & equal chance tasks like ‘Child Sensitive Social Protection’ & ‘Child Rights Governance’.
Plan India is a child rights organization promoting children’s rights and gender equality. To avoid child marriage & advance girls’ leadership, education, and health, Plan India runs programs like “Saksham” and “18=18.”
These Child Rights NGOs, along with many others, are playing a vital role in the legal battle to end child marriage in India. They offer legal aid to child marriage victims and raise awareness to drive policy changes and public action. They’re fostering an environment to empower girls and boys, who are key agents of change and the nation’s future.
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