Fresh SSB batches starts 1st & 15th of every month.
Child marriage is illegal as per the provisions of IPC but continues in the country. In your opinion, what is the best way to put an end to this practice? Leads:
- Strict Law Enforcement
- Universal Adult Education
- Social Awareness Campaigns
"When a law exists but the mindset resists, education and awareness become the most powerful tools of change."
1. Strict Law Enforcement - The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (2006) and relevant IPC sections criminalize child marriage, yet implementation remains weak.
- Lack of police action, fear of social backlash, and community silence result in underreporting of cases.
- Strengthening vigilance at the village and block level, deploying child protection units, and ensuring swift legal action can act as a deterrent.
- Data: According to NCRB, cases related to child marriage are often underreported, and many are settled informally.
✅
Impact:
Effective and visible enforcement builds fear of consequences, discouraging families from arranging early marriages.
2. Universal Adult Education - Educated parents are more likely to understand the legal, social, and health-related consequences of child marriage.
- Education delays marriage, especially among girls. As per UNICEF India, every additional year of schooling reduces the likelihood of early marriage by 6.5%.
- Promoting female education especially up to secondary and higher secondary levels drastically reduces child marriage incidences.
- Literacy also empowers young girls to resist pressure and report such practices.
✅
Impact:
Educated minds are more likely to resist regressive traditions and adopt legal, progressive thinking.
3. Social Awareness Campaigns - In rural areas, child marriage is still seen as normal or necessary for social or economic reasons.
- Mass campaigns involving religious leaders, local influencers, NGOs, and schools can shift public perception.
- Campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao and Kanyadaan Mukti Abhiyan have seen regional success in reducing child marriages.
- Targeting myths, customs, and economic triggers behind child marriage is key for long-term social change.
✅
Impact:
Changing community mindset ensures that people willingly abandon the practice, not just out of fear of law but because they understand its harm.
Conclusion While strict law enforcement can reduce incidents in the short term, universal education and social awareness offer sustainable and transformative solutions. Among the three, Universal Adult Education is the most impactful — as it empowers both parents and children with the knowledge and agency to resist child marriage.
