So, as you all can see my topic for today is Child Marriage.
First of all lets start with understanding what child marriage actually is. So, child marriage is any formal or informal union between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child, according to the United Nations Children’s Fund(UNICEF). According to the UNICEF, India has the highest number of child brides in the world i.e. 15,509,000 approximately. 27% of girls in India are married before their 18th birthday and 7% are married before the age of 15.
Why Child Marriage happens? Child Marriage happens because of a belief that girls are more inferior than boys and that they are burden on a family, so to get rid of them their parents get her married. Other reasons why child marriage happens are listed and explained as- (1)POVERTY: Child marriage often happens in poorer households, many families marrying off their daughters to reduce their economic burdens. Also, less dowry is expected for younger brides. (2)BETROTHAL: Before their birth, some girls are promised in marriage in order to “secure” their future. Once they reach puberty, they are married officially. (3)LEVEL OF EDUCATION: Many families consider girls as “paraya dhan”. And therefore educating a girl seems waste of money to them. They believe that girls are born to do household works and they will always remain inferior to men. (4)HOUSEHOLD LABOUR: When the girls are deemed to be more productive they often get married and suppose to take care of household and children. (5)GENDER NORMS: Normally girls are seen as inferior to men and therefore they are expected to be adaptable, docile, hardworking and talented wives. (6)VIOLENCE AGAINST GIRLS: Some girls are married early because of so called “kharab mahaul”. These are only some points, the list is endless.
India has committed to eliminate child marriage completely by 2030. India acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1992, which sets a minimum age of marriage is 18, and ratified the Convention on the Elimination if All Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW) in 1993, which obligates states to ensure free and full consent to marriage.
In the end, I just want to say that girls are not inferior to boys, they are equally productive and even more. A girl does all the hardwork like going to office, taking care of in-laws and children, taking care of household, and etc. she is a multitasker, a boy cannot do this, he cannot perform several functions at one time but a girl can do. Girls are more capable than boys. Never underestimate the power of a girl. She performs various roles like, mother, sister, daughter, wife, etc.. A boy is nothing without a women. If there were no women than I don’t think so anyone would’ve existed. Spending each penny on women’s education is worth it. Today, women’s are leading the world, and still in some parts of the world they are treated like a burden. Women are mot a burden!
Stop child marriage and give them a chance, they’ll make you proud!
A woman is the full circle. Within her is the power to create, nurture and transform~Diane Mariechild
Eduindex News 