INDIAN FORCED MARRIAGE OF THE CHILDREN
Child marriages are obnoxious. It’s a social evil and it breeds, in turn, further evil. Sadly enough, it is prevalent in many parts of developing nations, including India. But before I proceed further to talk about it, let me clarify. When I give statistical figures which is frightening indeed, some Indians may protest that reports such as these may produce distorted views for those to whom India is but a hazy word, and they may be stuck up with images of cows on busy streets, roadside child acrobats, naked yogis, ubiquitous snake charmers and barely-teen mothers balancing water pots and babies. None of these images are false; but try including the following images in the collage: a nuclear nation with the third largest scientific and technical manpower in the world, satellite-enabled telecommunication system, cine actresses no less daring and baring than those from the Western world, and so on. You get the drift, I hope. When you think of child marriages, try to remember millions of women in cities who would chew you if you talk to them about marriage before they are at least 28, by which time they would have completed their post graduate technical education and settled in cushy jobs in senior positions.
Credits: Women’s UN Report Network
Child marriages originated in medieval ages in response to the threat from invaders, and it was virtually non-existent in ancient times. In fact, this was the underlying reason for the origin of early marriages and ‘purdah’, the system of veiling women from public view. Once the girl was married, it was believed, she would be the “property” of her husband’s family, and maintaining her chastity would be now their headache. So the concept of chastity and poverty form the twin reasons for child marriages.
Another reason quoted for child marriages, especially by the business castes in Rajasthan where it is still common, is the consolidation of financial interests between two families and the unquestioning concurrence of young children to adult’s schemes.
The census reports the highest number of child marriages take place in the state of Rajasthan, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. While the Census 2001 reports that there were around 300,000 girls under the age of 15 with at least one child, data from subsequent survey show an increase in the trend. For example, in West Bengal, the figure is 39.16, which is higher than the national average of 32.10 per cent. The reason? Dowry and the rising cost of marriages that enable unscrupulous elements to take advantage of the situation.They approach poor rural fathers and offer money and/or marry their girls without dowry, only to sell them later. The younger the girls, the better, as they can be easily intimidated and overpowered. Certain regions like West Bengal and Nepal fall within the International supply chain of trafficked women.
Read more: http://socyberty.com/activism/abolishing-child-marriage-in-india/#ixzz1BDCOAPGN
Edit : Haminia
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