Child marriages are still rampant in the state of Rajasthan, India. To prevent them, the state government this month issued a directive that the birthdates of bride and groom be printed on the wedding invitations.
Child marriage is rooted in the centuries-old social traditions of many states in India. These traditions go against Indian law, which forbids girls to be married before 18 and boys before 21. However, according to a UNICEF information sheet, 43 percent of Indian women aged 20 to 24 years are still married before the age of 18. Rajasthan is one of the states with the highest incidences of child marriages.
Yogesh is a member of the city of Jodhpur-based nongovernmental organization, Vikalp Sansthan, which since 2006 has stopped 600 girl child marriages.
“In Rajasthan in olden days children were married at a very young age,” he said. “Bride and groom used to sit in the laps of their parents and get married. However, these days we no longer see such early child marriages. Girl child marriage age has increased to an average of 11 to 12 years.”
No wonder the government senses the need to issue the directive, finding it difficult to implement the law in communities that are finding new, disguised, ways to marry children. “Families marry their elder girl of the age of 18 or 19 years, and in the crowd of the same marriage celebration, marry off the younger sisters who are still children. Sometimes children don’t even know that they will get married, and everything is conducted as a hushed affair,” said Yogesh.
