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Islamabad Bans Child Marriage in Landmark Move, Clerics Call It ‘Un-Islamic’

May 28, 2025, 11:58 am

A historic bill banning child marriages was passed by the Pakistani National Assembly, but it only applies to citizens of Islamabad, the country’s capital. The law imposes severe penalties, such as jail term and heavy fines, and increases the legal marriage age for both boys and girls from 16 to 18. Even though the practice is still permitted in other regions of Pakistan, observers have hailed it as a major turning point in the nation’s continuous fight for gender equality and children’s rights.

Nevertheless, this protection is limited to Islamabad. Underage marriages are still permitted in the rest of Pakistan. While clerics have denounced this action as “un-Islamic,” activists have hailed it as a breakthrough.

Strict Penalties for Violators

Child marriage in Islamabad are now illegal under the new law. If a man over the age of 18 marries a minor, he could spend two to three years in prison. Additionally, he will pay a fine of up to Rs 100,000. If the accused can demonstrate that the marriage did not involve a minor, the law will grant some leniency.

Furthermore, any sexual act that takes place in such a union will now be considered statutory rape. The bill establishes a distinct legal boundary that puts the rights and safety of children first.

International Praise and Local Pushback

The bill was hailed by the UN as a “landmark advancement in safeguarding children’s rights.” It emphasized how the law supports the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 5, which is to eradicate child marriage by 2030. Senator Sherry Rehman and Dr. Sharmila Faruqui were praised by the UN for their support of the law. “This bill sends a powerful message… that women’s rights are protected at the top,” Rehman said.

Not all facets of society, though, applauded the action. Leaders in politics and religion have referred to the bill as “un-Islamic.” They contend that once a girl reaches puberty, marriage should be permitted and should continue to be a family decision.

Hope for National Reform

The bill gives activists hope, despite its narrow scope. They think that other provinces may enact comparable legislation as a result of Islamabad’s victory. In a nation where child marriage is still prevalent, observers refer to it as a “important step forward.” The law might serve as a social and legal model for reform across the country.

The capital of Pakistan has taken a risky move. Now the rest of the country has to decide between tradition and progress.

Rajasthan Leads In Preventing Child Marriage; Challenges Remain Amid Legal Efforts

May 1, 2025, 12:32 am

Child marriage remains a deeply rooted global concern, with over 640 million women and girls worldwide having been married before the age of 18. Every year, approximately 12 million girls become child brides, often driven by poverty, social norms, and gender inequality. Despite being outlawed under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006), the practice continues in various parts of India, including Rajasthan — a state showing commendable progress but still facing serious challenges.

Rajasthan: Progress Amid Ongoing Challenges

According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019–21), one in four women aged 20–24 in Rajasthan were married before 18. Districts such as Bhilwara (53.2%), Karauli (53%), Jaisalmer (51.8%), Nagaur (50.6%), Barmer and Alwar (49.8%) remain hotspots. However, Rajasthan recorded a 12-percentage point decline in child marriage from NFHS-4 to NFHS-5 — the highest reduction among Indian states — improving its national rank from 25th to 22nd.

Disturbing National Trends

Sharing the facts with The Daily Guardian, Shafqat Hussain, Social Policy Specialist at UNICEF Rajasthan, said that although Rajasthan has improved, the number of child marriages is still higher than the national average. According to the UNICEF report, there are more than 22.6 crore child brides in the country. Out of these, 10.2 crore girls were married before the age of 15 years. One out of every 3 girls are married before the age of 15. According to the data released by the National Family Health Survey Report 2019-21, 25.4% of girls in the state are married before the age of 18. That is, about 25 out of 100 girls are married as children. Even now, child marriage in rural areas is about 13.2% more than in cities. According to the NFH survey report, 15.1% of girls are getting married as children in urban areas, whereas 28.3% of girls get married as children in rural areas.

State Action And Legal Interventions

Rajesh Dogiwal, an official from ICPS, shared with The Daily Guardian that government departments, NGOs, and local bodies are working in close coordination to prevent and annul child marriages The state has rolled out various schemes to tackle child marriage and promote child welfare, including the Mukhyamantri Rajshri Yojana, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), Palanhar Yojana, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), and Mukhyamantri Hunar Vikas Yojana for skill development.

Stories Of Courage And Change

Dr Kriti Bharti, child rights activist and founder of Sarathi Trust, has played a pivotal role in annulling 52 child marriages in Rajasthan, including 10 on Akha Teej alone. Her organisation has also prevented 2,100 child marriages, rehabilitated 25,000 children and women, and administered mass oaths to over 50,000 people against performing child marriages.

Sheetal (name changed), a 20-year-old from Tonk, was married at just two years of age during a family function in 2003. She discovered the marriage as she grew older and feared it would crush her dream of becoming an IAS officer. Depressed and desperate, she reached out to Dr Bharti of Sarathi Trust, who supported her in filing for annulment in Tonk Family Court. Despite facing threats and the sudden death of her father due to stress, Sheetal bravely pursued justice. With Dr Bharti’s legal support, the court annulled her child marriage—the first such case in Tonk district.

Sharmila (name changed) of Tinwari tehsil was married in 2003 to a young man from Osian tehsil. At the time of child marriage, Sharmila was only two and a half years old. But due to the ceremony of Mausar in the family, she was tied in the shackles of child marriage. Sharmila, in a state of depression, took the help of social media and contacted Dr Bharti, Managing Trustee and Rehabilitation Psychologist of Sarathi Trust, who is among the World Top Ten Activists and BBC 100 Inspiring Women. With the help of Dr Bharti, Sharmila filed a case in Jodhpur Family Court, pleading for annulment of child marriage. The Family Court annulled Sharmila’s child marriage and freed her from the bondage.

NFHS-5 data reveals that girls with no education face a 48% risk of being married before 18, compared to only 4% among girls with higher education. Poverty also plays a major role: 40% of girls in the lowest wealth quintile were married early, compared to 8% in the highest. While Rajasthan’s urban areas show better indicators, the rate of improvement in rural areas between NFHS-4 and NFHS-5 has been higher, suggesting positive momentum in traditionally underserved regions. With the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of ending child marriage by 2030, Rajasthan’s approach — combining legal, educational, and grassroots efforts — may serve as a model for the rest of the country.

Iraq Proposed Marriage Law Allowing 9-Year-Old Brides Sparks Outrage Over Women Rights

November 10, 2024, 4:55 pm

Iraq is moving forward with controversial amendments to its marriage law, which would allow girls as young as nine to marry and deprive women of key rights, including divorce, child custody, and inheritance. The amendments have sparked alarm from human rights groups, activists, and women’s organizations, fearing a rollback of women’s freedoms and an erosion of gender equality in the country.

The proposed changes to Iraq’s family law, which aims to align with a strict interpretation of Islamic Sharia law, are backed by the government coalition of Shia parties. These amendments would also allow citizens to choose either religious authorities or civil courts to handle family matters.

The original family law, known as “Law 188,” was hailed as one of the most progressive in the region when introduced in 1959, offering a secular framework for managing family affairs. However, the new proposals are seen as a move to tighten religious control over personal matters, a shift that is particularly alarming for women’s rights advocates.

Human rights groups are especially concerned that the amendments will exacerbate Iraq’s already high rates of child marriage. According to UNICEF, approximately 28% of Iraqi girls are married before the age of 18, and the new legal changes are expected to worsen these statistics. The law would also give religious leaders more influence over family matters, including the controversial practice of officiating child marriages, which is currently allowed under certain conditions.

Dr. Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, explained that the move is part of an effort by certain Shia Islamist factions to consolidate power and gain legitimacy amid waning political support. Mansour noted that the push for stricter religious laws is a tactic to reinforce ideological control, particularly among groups seeking to restore influence after years of political decline.

The proposed amendments have faced stiff opposition from Iraqi women’s groups, who fear that the changes will further diminish women’s rights and lead to an erosion of legal protections for young girls. Activists have warned that the new law could pave the way for legalized child marriages and increase the risks of sexual and physical violence against young girls, denying them access to education and employment.

As the bill moves through parliament, it is expected to pass despite widespread protests, signaling a potential shift towards greater religious authority in Iraq’s legal system.

Iraq Proposal To Reduce Legal Marriage Age For Girls To 9

August 9, 2024, 11:11 am

A proposed bill in Iraq’s parliament has ignited a firestorm of controversy and concern by suggesting a drastic reduction in the legal age of marriage for girls to as young as 9. This contentious proposal, introduced by the Iraq Justice Ministry, aims to amend the country’s Personal Status Law, which currently sets the minimum marriage age at 18.

The bill seeks to offer citizens the option of choosing between religious authorities or civil judiciary for family-related decisions, raising alarms about potential erosion of rights related to inheritance, divorce, and child custody. Critics argue that this proposal could lead to a surge in child marriages and exploitation, threatening decades of progress in women’s rights and gender equality.

Human rights organizations, women’s groups, and civil society advocates have strongly condemned the bill, warning of severe repercussions for young girls’ education, health, and overall well-being. They emphasize that child marriage often results in higher dropout rates, early pregnancies, and increased domestic violence.

UNICEF reports that 28 percent of girls in Iraq are already married before reaching 18, highlighting the severity of the issue. Sarah Sanbar, a researcher at Human Rights Watch, criticized the bill as a regressive step, stating, “Passing this law would demonstrate a country moving backward, not forwards.”

Amal Kabashi of the Iraq Women’s Network echoed these concerns, accusing the amendment of facilitating male dominance in family matters within an already conservative society. Despite the bill being withdrawn in late July following widespread objection, it resurfaced on August 4 after gaining support from influential Shia blocs within the parliament.

The proposed legislation represents a significant shift from the 1959 law, which moved family law authority from religious figures to the state judiciary. The new bill would reintroduce the option for religious-based legal decisions, primarily reflecting Shia and Sunni Islamic rules, while excluding other religious and sectarian communities in Iraq’s diverse society.

Proponents of the bill argue it seeks to align with Islamic law and protect young girls from “immoral relationships.” However, opponents criticize this reasoning as flawed and dismissive of the harsh realities of child marriage. “Girls belong on the playground and in school, not in a wedding dress,” Sanbar added.

The fate of this proposed amendment remains uncertain, as it faces significant opposition and follows several failed attempts to alter existing marriage laws.

Sierra Leone Enacts Landmark Law Banning Child Marriage

July 3, 2024, 6:40 pm

Sierra Leone has officially banned child marriage with the introduction of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The new law was celebrated at a ceremony in Freetown, organized by First Lady Fatima Bio and attended by dignitaries, including first ladies from Cape Verde and Namibia. President Julius Maada Bio signed the Act into law, marking a significant step towards protecting the rights of girls in Sierra Leone.

Under the new legislation, anyone involved in marrying a girl under the age of 18 faces a minimum of 15 years in prison or a fine of approximately $4,000 (£3,200), or both. This includes the groom, the parents or guardians of the child bride, and even attendees of the wedding.

University student Khadijatu Barrie, whose sister was married off at 14, expressed her support for the ban but lamented that it had not come sooner. “I really wish it had happened earlier. I could have at least saved my sister and my friends and other neighbours,” the 26-year-old gender studies undergraduate told the BBC.

In Sierra Leone’s patriarchal society, it is common for fathers to forcibly marry off their daughters. Barrie herself faced this threat at the age of 10, but managed to escape after her father disowned her. With the help of teachers who paid her school fees and a UN children’s agency worker who provided accommodation, she was able to continue her education. Barrie emphasized the need for widespread awareness of the new law, especially in rural areas where traditional practices are deeply ingrained. “If everyone understands what’s there waiting for you in case you do it I’m sure this country will be a better one,” she said.

The Ministry of Health estimates that one-third of girls in Sierra Leone are married before turning 18, contributing to one of the highest maternal death rates in the world.

First Lady Fatima Bio, who has been a vocal advocate against sexual abuse since her husband took office six years ago, ensured that the signing of the bill was a significant event. President Bio, reflecting on his upbringing by his mother and elder sister, stated, “Together, we want to build an empowered Sierra Leone where women are given an even platform to reach their full potential. I have always believed that the future of Sierra Leone is female.”

Rights activists have hailed the new law as a watershed moment. The US Bureau of African Affairs praised the legislation on social media, calling it a “significant milestone” that not only protects girls but also promotes robust human rights protections.

Assam’s CM Biswa Sarma Announces ‘Nijut Moina’ Scheme’: Empowering Girls

June 12, 2024, 3:30 pm

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on June 12 a new initiative aimed at preventing early marriage among girl students and encouraging them to pursue higher education. The ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme will provide monthly stipends to girl students from class 11 through postgraduate studies.

Scheme Details

The ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme offers financial incentives to girls who enroll in higher education institutions:

Classes 11 and 12: Rs 1,000 per month
Undergraduate courses: Rs 1,250 per month
Postgraduate courses: Rs 2,500 per month

The stipends will be transferred directly to the students’ bank accounts on the 11th of every month, reducing economic hardships and easing the financial burden on their families. This initiative aims to increase the enrollment ratio of girls in higher education institutions and promote their educational attainment.

Impact on Early Marriage

Chief Minister Sarma emphasized that the primary goal of the ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme is to delay marriages among girl students, enabling them to become financially independent. The scheme is expected to require an annual expenditure of approximately Rs 300-350 crore, potentially rising to Rs 1,500 crore per year as the number of beneficiaries increases.

Government’s Commitment

The Assam government has approved the scheme, demonstrating its commitment to supporting the education of girls in the state. The Chief Minister noted that the scheme will build on the success of a previous initiative that provided scooters to girls who achieved first-division marks, which resulted in an increase in the number of girls achieving high academic results.

Eligibility Criteria

The scheme will cover most girl students, with some exceptions:

Excludes daughters of ministers, MLAs, and MPs
Excludes students studying in private colleges
Applies to girls from class 11 to post-graduation, with stipends provided for 10 months each year (excluding June and July)

Preventing Child Marriage

Sarma highlighted that preventing child marriage is a key objective of the scheme. Married girls will not be eligible for the stipend, except those already enrolled in postgraduate courses. The scheme aims to increase the gross enrollment ratio of girls in higher education substantially.

The ‘Nijut Moina’ scheme represents a significant step by the Assam government to support and empower girl students, ensuring they have the financial means to continue their education and delay marriage, ultimately leading to greater opportunities and economic independence for women in the state.

40-yr-old man convicted of marrying 15-yr-old girl in Karachi

March 15, 2024, 1:17 pm

According to Dawn, a guy who married a minor received a two-year term in the care of a probation officer from a sessions court. Section 3 of the Sindh Child Restraint Marriage Act found 43-year-old Muhammad Aslam guilty of marrying a 15-year-old girl, according to Additional District and Sessions Judge (West) Irshad Hussain.

Under the probation officer’s supervision, the convicted felon would reside at his residence with his spouse, the same minor daughter. The judge noted that the defendant was the only provider for his wife and young daughter and that it would be more appropriate to turn him over to the probation officer rather than put him in jail.

“Sending him in jail to serve out the sentence will not benefit him to reform his life and mend his ways,” the judge said.

As Dawn reported, during the trial, the guilty party entered a plea of guilty and offered himself over to the court.

A complaint was filed with the police in May 2022 by the father of a minor, according to the prosecution, who claimed that Aslam had taken his daughter away from their neighborhood intending to rape her or force her into marriage.

Meanwhile, the minor girl and her spouse went to a magistrate to provide a statement in which they stated that the girl had left her father’s house on her own volition and that she wanted to get married to Aslam through a “court marriage.”

The court dismissed the First Information Report (FIR) after recording her statement. After that, the complainant filed an appeal with the Sindh High Court, which in turn mandated a medical examination to determine the age of the girl.

She was 15 years old when she fled her house, according to the medical report. As a result, the court declared Arif Hussain, Aman Gul, and Nikah Khawan Moulvi Karamat to be proclaimed criminals and added provisions of the Child Marriage Restriction Act.

The girl stated that she was 19 years old when the marriage was consummated during the interrogation. She denied that her husband had kidnapped her and insisted that she had given her free will to the marriage. She said that her husband was taking good care of her and their daughter and denied having submitted a Khula application to the court.
Moreover, Dawn stated that she acknowledged not knowing that marriages between minors are legally forbidden.

Progress against child marriage in India slows, 1 in 5 girls, 1 in 6 boys married

December 28, 2023, 3:59 am

One in five girls and about one in six boys in India are married, with the progress made towards eliminating the practice of child marriage entirely stagnating in recent years, according to a study published in ‘The Lancet Global Health’ journal.
Between 2016 and 2021, the practice of child marriage also became more common in some states and Union territories, researchers said in their study.

Girl child marriages increased in six states, including Manipur, Punjab, Tripura, and West Bengal, while eight states, including Chhattisgarh, Goa, Manipur, and Punjab, witnessed a rise in boy child marriages, the researchers found after analysing data from all five waves of India’s National Family Health Survey from 1993 to 2021.
The research team, comprising researchers from Harvard University and those affiliated with the Indian government, however, said that child marriage had declined nationally.

Prevalence of girl child marriage decreased from 49 per cent in 1993 to 22 per cent in 2021, while that of boy child marriage came down from 7 per cent in 2006 to 2 per cent in 2021, they found.
Nevertheless, progress towards stopping the practice of child marriage altogether has stalled in recent years between 2016 and 2021, the researchers said. Child marriage numbers reduced the most between 2006 and 2016.
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) sees child marriage as a “violation of human rights”, as it “compromises the development of girls and boys”.

Child marriage is often the result of entrenched gender inequality, making girls disproportionately affected by the practice, according to the UN agency.
Ending child marriage is therefore seen to be critical towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5, which is to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls” by 2030.
Specifically, SDG target 5.3 seeks to “eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation”.
According to the UN, one in five young women worldwide (19 per cent) were married in childhood in 2022.

While globally, the practice of child marriage has come down, the “profound effects of COVID-19 are threatening this progress, with up to 10 million additional girls at risk of child marriage over the course of a decade from the onset of the pandemic,” the organisation says.
In the study, the researchers considered men and women aged 20-24 who were married before turning 18 in their analysis even though India legally considers marriage of boys before age 21 to be child marriage.

The team included more than 13.4 million women and more than 1.4 million men in their analysis.
The researchers noted that increased global attention to doing away with child marriage has led many countries to pass legislations to ban the practice.
In India, they said, policy response to prevent child marriage in India has involved legal prohibition intended to directly prevent child marriage, referring to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act passed in 2006. The Act set the legal age of marriage for men to 21 years and women to 18 years.

The researchers added that other policies and schemes were implemented to address the underlying drivers of the practice with such programmes focusing on expanding social protections, increasing girls’ education, and reducing economic vulnerability.
They said that state-level governments have been crucial partners to strengthen efforts to end child marriage. Citing the example of Uttar Pradesh, they said the state has “achieved dramatic decreases in prevalence and headcount for child marriage in girls”.
Other states, such as West Bengal, have struggled, they said.

The researchers said that evidence gaps on the effective elimination of child marriage globally remain, with interventions such as cash transfers showing poor success in certain geographies, such as India.
They described the observed state-level and Union territory-level stagnation in doing away with child marriage in India as a “big concern” and that “re-igniting” progress in this direction was necessary to achieve the SDG target 5.3.

Gauhati HC says Assam govt crackdown on child marriages creating “havoc” in private lives

February 15, 2023, 5:12 pm

The Gauhati High Court on Tuesday raised some serious questions about the ongoing crackdown on child marriages by the Assam government. As per the official data, more than 3,000 people have been arrested for allegedly marrying underage girls in the BJP-ruled state since 3rd February. While granting anticipatory bail to certain accused in different cases booked under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 r/w the POCSO Act, the Gauhati High Court on Tuesday said that, “If marriage is taking place in violation of law, the law will take its own course.”

Justice Suman Shyam orally observed that these cases have been happening for long time and that the court will consider if immediate custodial interrogation is required or not. At this moment however these matters are not for custodial interrogation. If required the court will ask the custodial to to appear in the court and record their statements. He stated that the high court is not acquitting anybody and is not preventing the government from investigating the cases of child marriages either. In addition to this he raised questions regarding the allegations under IPC section 376 when there are no allegations of rape.

“These are all weird allegations, absolutely weird,” Justice Shyam observed.

Justice Shyam further asked, “What do you get by custodial interrogation of these people? Either he has abetted or he has not. Either it’s a case of child marriage or it is not. For that, is it necessary to have custodial interrogation? What is the idea behind this?”

Further he said “Merely because POCSO is added, does it mean judges will not see what is there?” He asked the state to proceed as per law, file a charge sheet, if they are convicted, then they are convicted and that the constant arrests are causing havoc in the private life of their children family members, and old people.

Till February 14, altogether 3,031 people have been apprehended against registration of 4,225 child marriage cases. The crackdown began on 3rd February with 4,004 FIRs. Justice Shyam told Additional Public Prosecutor D Das that the state government does not even have space in the jails and suggested that the administration come up with bigger prisons.

Assam: Cries getting louder as the arrests continue

February 6, 2023, 2:39 pm

Assam government’s crackdown against child marriages resulted in protests in many places. Many of the police stations in Southern Assam experienced major protests by women whose husbands were arrested.

The women claimed that their husbands are the only bread earner of their family, and they will die of hunger without them. They opposed the government saying that they got married by their own wish and now they don’t have anybody to look after their children with their husbands gone.

In response, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated, “We will create a rehabilitation fund for the victims. The Assam government and the Central government have various poverty alleviation schemes. We will try to bring the victims back to the education system.”

Sarma addressed the issue of teenage pregnancies followed by early marriages. He also talked about how an early marriage affects a girl mentally.

“There is zero sympathy in these matters. After a young girl is married and goes through… I will have to call it rape… have we thought of the suffering the girl goes through? In order to save lakhs of girls from this situation in the future, one generation will have to suffer. There is no question of sympathy here… Child marriage has to stop in Assam and action against it will continue. I have told District Collectors that if anyone has financial troubles because their husbands are in jail, the government can look into it,” he said.

The fear of arrest also brought forth some tragic cases. One of them is a 16 year-old girl committing suicide in Cachar district who was a minor and got married by her own will.

Also in many districts, women were ready to give up all government aids for the release of their husbands.

The issue of child marriage cannot be resolved by legal measures only. It is a social issue and it has to be addressed by keeping all the social aspects in mind. There are several reasons for early marriage in Assam and the major issue is that girls are seen to have no other roles outside the household work and giving birth, since social standards put less emphasis on them in comparison to boys.

So, this social evil should be eliminated from our society as soon as possible. The most effective way to eliminate it is with education and public awareness.

Assam govt launches massive crackdown on child marriages, over 2000 people arrested

February 3, 2023, 7:55 pm

Assam police arrested more than 2,000 people on Friday all over the state in connection with the child marriages.

Police have arrested a maximum number of people from the four districts of the state, such as Dhubri, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, and Vishwanath.

Assam Director-General of Police (DGP) GP Singh said that the police have lodged over 4000 cases in several districts of the state. Singh went on to say that among the arrested people there were 52 priests and Qazis, as they were involved in child marriages.

DGP Singh further added that the action is being taken at the direction of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa. The CM urged the police about two months ago to complete a full investigation as he got information that child marriage was widespread in the state.

All the district SPs came into action after getting the order from the chief minister to get in touch with villagers, prominent people, and chiefs of numerous clans to find out the total number of child marriages across the state.

During the last two days of the probe, police have lodged 4074 cases in the different districts of Assam.

The DGP further added that most of the cases have been registered under different provisions of the POCSO Act and IPC sections, and action will be taken as per the law. All the arrested people will have to appear in court.

The chief minister of Assam tweeted, “I have urged the Assam Police not to show any tolerance against the culprits who were involved in heinous crimes against women.”

CM Sarma further added that the police would take action against those who are involved in child marriages in the state and operations against the culprits would continue in the coming days.

Action on child marriage cases in Assam to start tomorrow:CM Sarma

February 2, 2023, 7:04 pm

Action on child marriage cases in Assam to start tomorrow, says CM Sarma

February 2, 2023, 1:31 pm

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that the action on the 4,004 registered cases of child marriage would begin from 3^rd February. He informed this on the twitter stating that the govt is firm in its resolve to end the menace of child marriage in the state. On January 28, the Chief Minister said that women should not wait too long for embracing motherhood and suggested embracing motherhood at the appropriate age between 22-30 years.

India’s highest number of child girl marriages recorded in Jharkhand

October 8, 2022, 2:24 pm

According to the latest demographic sample survey by the union home ministry, Jharkhand has recorded highest percentage of underaged girls getting married.According to the survey brought out by the office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, the percentage of girls getting married before attaining majority is as high as 5.8 in Jharkhand.The survey said, “The percentage of females who got effectively married before reaching 18 years of age is 1.9 at the national level and varies from 0.0 in Kerala to 5.8 in Jharkhand.”The Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report contains estimates of various demographic, fertility and mortality indicators based on the data collected through one of the largest demographic surveys in the world covering about 8.4 million sample population.According to the report, Jharkhand and West Bengal are the only two states in the country where more than half of the women are married before attaining the age of 21 years.The survey said that the national average of 29.5 per cent while 54.9 per cent of girls are married in West Bengal before attaining the age of 21 years, and the figure for Jharkhand is 54.6 per cent.