70,000 child marriages prevented in 265 districts across 17 states: NGO report

A recent report by an NGO highlights the remarkable impact of civil society organisations in preventing child marriages across India. According to the India Child Protection (ICP) research team, more than 70,000 child marriages prevented in 265 districts across 17 states and Union Territories during the 2023-2024 period.

The report, released by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), credits legal interventions and the active involvement of panchayats (local self-governing bodies) in curbing child marriages. Notably, the Rajasthan High Court’s judgment holding panchayats accountable contributed significantly to reducing child marriage cases reported on Akshaya Tritiya.

A total of 73,501 child marriages were prevented by civil society organizations. These efforts involved 161 organizations operating in 265 districts. In addition to legal measures, panchayats played a crucial role in preventing 59,364 marriages during the specified period.

The report highlights that the total number of child marriage cases registered over the past five years (3,863) is lower than the daily occurrence of girl child marriages (4,442). The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data reveals that out of 63,513 children kidnapped or abducted and recovered in 2022, 25% were victims of forced marriage or sexual exploitation. Specifically, 15,142 children recovered in 2022 were kidnapped solely for the purpose of marriage.

Despite 3,563 child marriage cases listed for trial under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, only 181 cases were successfully concluded in terms of trial completion. The slow disposal rate has led to a persistently high pendency rate (92%). The conviction rate for child marriage cases remains dishearteningly low. In 2022, only 11% of such cases resulted in convictions, contrasting sharply with the overall conviction rate of 34% for crimes against children.

Assam’s Success Story

The ICP research team collected primary data from 1,132 random villages across 20 districts in Assam. The study revealed an 81% reduction in child marriage instances between 2021-22 and 2023-24. Some villages reported complete eradication of child marriages, while others saw significant declines.

Respondents attributed Assam’s success to strict law enforcement initiatives by the state government in 2023. Nearly 98% acknowledged the effectiveness of stringent measures in curbing child marriages within their communities.

In 12 districts out of 20, more than 90% of respondents believe that taking legal action, such as arresting individuals and filing FIRs in cases involving child marriage, can successfully solve this issue.
Overall, all 20 districts have the same rate of 72%. This community validation emphasises the importance of ongoing and aggressive prosecution tactics to address and eliminate child marriage totally.
The report proposed that fast track special courts be established to eliminate the backlog of child marriage cases.

It stated that in cases where parents, guardians, or panchayats make an undertaking, the punishment should be quadrupled and classified as criminal conspiracy for rape.

The report recommended that a specific provision be provided for the rehabilitation of victims and survivors of child marriage, treating them on the same level as survivors of child sexual assault.
It advocated the implementation of a specific system concentrating on skill development and economic stability for women who choose to leave child marriages, as well as a central portal managed by the Ministry of Home Affairs to report child marriages with an urgent “Rapid Action Response Protocol”.

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