Child Marriage : Facts?

Even though India has strict laws for putting an end to child marriage, approximately one in four young women in India were married or in union before their 18th birthday. Girls who live in rural areas or come from poorer households are at greater risk, and a higher proportion of child brides are found among those with little or no education.

source : https://www.unicef.org/india/ 

While child marriage can happen to both boys and girls, in most places around the world, the practice mostly affects girls. Child marriage deeply affects child brides, their children, their families, and even countries.

Girls often get married because of pressure from parents and relatives, poverty and lack of alternatives. Limited access to quality education and families’ prioritization of boys’ rather than girls’ education–in part because of limited job opportunities–contribute to perpetuate the practice.

Child marriage not only puts a stop to girls' hopes and dreams. It also hampers efforts to end poverty and achieve economic growth and equity. It causes serious health issues to child brides due to immature pregnancy. It is health hazard to infant also.

One of the best ways to end child marriage is to keep girls in school.

Each year of secondary education may reduce the likelihood of marrying before the age of 18 by five percentage points or more in many countries. By contrast, child brides are much more likely to drop out of school and complete fewer years of education than their peers who marry early.

Girls are powerful agents of socioeconomic change. Girls who complete secondary education tend to be healthier, participate more in the formal labor market, earn more, marry later, have fewer children and provide better health care and education for the next generation. These factors combined can help lift households, communities, and nations out of poverty.

Indira Gandhi Education Centre is providing girls all resources to complete their education. This will help daughters of India to stand proud and make a way in any mainstream career as they want.