Experts differ with government over child marriage data

JAIPUR: The child marriages in Rajasthan have again come into limelight after four such marriages were held in Udaipur recently. Although the government data indicates that there has been 20% reduction in child marriages in Rajasthan, the field workers say otherwise. Those working towards curbing child marriages claim that there has been no reduction and those indulging in this have just changed their modus operandi by arranging these nuptials throughout the year but just having the ‘gauna’ on ‘Akha Teej’, a day considered auspicious. The experts lamented that in a lot of cases, even the authorities turn a blind eye saying, ‘it is part of the culture’.
Kriti Bharti, founder of Saarthi Trust, a Jodhpur-based NGO which works in this field especially in annulment of child marriages, said, “Child marriages happen throughout the year and I do not go by the official data. People have become very smart now and get their children married off some time during the year but perform the ‘gauna’ (when the bride is sent to her husband’s place) on Akha Teej. The authorities come into action only a month or so before Akha Teej. At times, even the officials who are coming from the same culture, are unable to do much.”

Rajasthan still ranks among the top 12 states where prevalence of child marriage is very high compared to the national average of 11.9%, according to a report by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). In the state child marriage in rural areas is 89.4% while in urban areas it is 10.6%.

“Even if the marriage of two children is stopped on that day, it is held again after a gap of few days in some other location but in the official inventory it is listed as one less child marriage. However, a lot of such nuptials take place after death of a person in a family. People follow the custom of getting the minors married off to appease the soul of the dead because of which they happen throughout the year,” added Bharti.

The experts say that law is not enough to control this trend and Karuna Philip of Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti added the law is there which criminalises child marriages but other aspects also need to work like proper education and initiatives to ensure that people understand the adversities of child marriages.