Project :

Organise a discussion to create awareness on ill effects of child marriage.

IChild marriage refers to the formal marriage of two individuals before they have attained the prescribed eligible age. The children are extremely immature to take such big life decisions. In this way it is a form of forced marriage. Although, it is for both the boys and girl, the marriage of girls is more as compared to boys.

UNI-CEF has prescribed the minimum age of children to get married like 18 years. In most of the countries the legal marriage age is 18 but the cultural traditions take priority over the law.

Causes of child marriage:

1. Poverty: Child marriage is common in the relatively poorer household. The elders of the family marry off the daughter to reduce the economic burden. It is also said that less dowry is expected for the younger brides.

2. Education: Many families believe that the productive capacity of a girl is very low. They are not willing to spend an adequate amount of money on the education of the daughter. Educating their son is a symbol of taking care of the parents in old age.

3. Household labour: Girls are married off at a young age because they are deemed to be extremely productive to take care of the household and the family.

4. Traditional customs: In some castes, and areas, it is the general tradition to marry off the girl child at a young age.

5. External environment: Some girls are married off early due to the fear of the corrupted external environment.

The ill effects of child marriage :

1. The girls are forced to live a life dedicated to the household work. They are forced with a lot of laborious work of the family.

2. Girls do not get proper education due to patriarchal and gender inequality.

3. It creates a sense of insecurity among them.

4. Most of the child brides are at a greater risk of physical violence within their marital home.

5. Child marriage is an abuse of human rights.

6. It has negative long term mental consequences for the children.

How to increase awareness among child marriage?

1. Children should be made aware of human rights and must be taught to speak up against such incidents.

2. Media can play a positive role in awareness.

3. Short films and plays can be shown to the people and the moral behind them should be explained

4. Schools should be set up in all the areas and the parents should be encouraged to send their children to school

Child marriages have been declining but at a very slow rate of one person per year. NGOs and government organisations have joined hands to eradicate this practice.