Department of Sociology, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, India
Online published on 5 December, 2015.
Post-puberty marriage was the usual practice in India in Vedic period. It was only after 400 BC that the marriageable age was gradually reduced under Brahmin declaration according to which a woman was born to live her life under domination. And to maintain the dominion status, it was necessary to practice child marriage. If the marriage was delayed, girls would attain maturity and question the relevance of their domination. The practice of child marriage continued in India for centuries, however from 1931 onwards a trend of gradually raising the age of marriage appeared on the scene. Nevertheless, the evil of child marriage in girls is continuing in some areas of the country. A girl is not physically fit to face pregnancy and bear children before 18 years of age. Marrying a girl in her tender age exposes her to the risk of motherhood even before she has completed her childhood and eventually contributes to high maternal morbidity and mortality. The practice of child marriage is essentially rooted in poverty and ignorance. Education and counseling can help in dispelling ignorance of parents and changing their attitude towards women. Parents should impart appropriate education to their daughters and arrange for their acquisition of skills. It is imperative to enlist the coordination and cooperation of various government agencies involved in maternal and child health. Constitution of India offers protection to women against exploitation. Legislative measures in operation in India safeguard the interests of women. However, these are only supportive measures. They need a mechanism for their enforcement at the community level.
