New Delhi: With the Cabinet approved a proposal to increase the age of the law of marriage for girls from 18 years to 21, bringing it equivalent to men, the government has moved the process for the great change in laws that have become the point of the old debate.
Large tests for bills will take place in parliament because every age change will have far-reaching implications.
Despite decades for decades, underage marriage remains a concern even though there is a long ban on a child’s marriage.
A total of 23.3% of women aged 20-24 were married before they were 18 years old, the age of the law of marriage, according to the National Family Health Survey – 5 (2019-21).
The latest survey shows the problem is more common in Indian countryside by 27% while in urban areas, underage marriages contribute 14.7% of all marriages.
The government sees the law proposed as a strong action to bring women with the same footing with men in accordance with the vision of the constitution on gender equality.
“When India develops, further opportunities are open to women to pursue higher education and careers.
There is a necessity to reduce maternal mortality (MMR), infant mortality (IMR) and increase in nutritional levels and increased sex ratio at birth ( SRB).
This is the main reason for legislation proposed, “the official source said.
This step is also quoted as a step that will allow women to achieve psychological maturity before marriage, carry out their reproductive rights better and make decisions about family planning and contraceptive use.
Read alsoprogressive steps or poles for poor people? Rights groups are divided by Delhi’s opinion: Women’s rights groups are divided into their response to the government’s proposal to change the ban on children’s marriage laws, 2006, to increase the age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years.
While the section sees this as a progressive step to empower women with “choice”, because the age of marriage for women increased from 15 to 18 in 1978 by changing the Sharda law in 1929.
The first indication of the upward revisions in the marriage age of girls came inside PM narendra modi speech on last year’s independence day.
On Wednesday, the Cabinet agreed to the introduction of ‘Prohibition of Children’s Wedding Bill (Amendment), 2021’ to change ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA)’.
The bill is expected to be taken soon in parliament.
According to sources, the bill that was once approved by the parliament, will be followed by consequential amendments in laws related to the age of marriage.
These include private laws that regulate Hindu marriage, Muslims, Christians, Parsis and ‘special marriage law, 1954’ and ‘foreign wedding actions, 1969’.
Under supervision is related laws such as ‘Hindu Law and Guardianship, 1956’ and ‘Hindu maintenance and maintenance law, 1956.’ In his independence speech, last year’s speech, said PM, “to end the malnutrition among women, to assess what should be the age of marriage, we have established a committee.”