Cases Registered Under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 Show an Increase During the Period 2011-13

Cases Registered Under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 Show an Increase During the Period 2011-13

The number of cases registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 has shown an increasing trend during the period 2011-13. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data which is available till the year 2013, the number of such cases registered were 222 in 2013, 169 in 2012 and 113 in 2011. In the year 2013, highest number of cases registered are in Tamil Nadu (56) followed by West Bengal (43). The reasons for child marriage are complex and it is mindset problem which considers girl child as a burden. Social customs, tradition, illiteracy, poverty, low status of women in society, lack of awareness about consequences of child marriage are some of the other reasons that encourage the practice of child marriage. The Resolution titled ‘Strengthening efforts to prevent and eliminate child, early and forced marriage : challenges, achievements, best practices and implementation gaps’ was adopted by consensus at the 24th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in September, 2013. India supported the resolution and made a statement. Government of India is concerned about the prevalence of Child Marriages in the country and put in place necessary legislation viz. Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) 2006 to tackle the problem. The States/UTs from time to time are being regularly pursued for effective implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Further, State Governments are requested to take special initiative to delay marriage by coordinated efforts on Akha Teej—the traditional day for such marriages; Advertisements in the press and electronic media educating peoples about the issue of Child Marriage etc also being taken up. Platforms such as the International Women’s Day and the National Girl Child Day are used to create awareness on issues related to women and to bring to the centre stage issues such as child marriage. Through the Sabla programme of this Ministry, adolescent girls in the age group of 11 to 18 years are imparted training with regard to legal rights of women which also includes the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Lok Sabha today. NB/NK/PB (Release ID :117008)