Early marriage is a major social issue in India, with around 23% of girls married before the age of 18. There are a number of factors that contribute to early marriage, including poverty, lack of education, social norms, and gender inequality.
Trends in early marriage in India
The prevalence of early marriage in India has been declining in recent years. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 5, which was conducted in 2019-2021, the percentage of women aged 20-24 who were married before the age of 18 was 23.3%. This is a decline from 27.9% in 2015-2016 and 47.4% in 2005-2006.
There are a number of factors that have contributed to this decline, including:
- Increased awareness of the harmful effects of early marriage
- Increased access to education for girls
- Economic development, which has led to improved living standards for many families
- The passage of laws that make early marriage illegal
However, despite these efforts, early marriage remains a major problem in India. There are a number of reasons why girls are still being married off at an early age, including:
- Poverty: Many families marry off their daughters early in order to reduce the financial burden of raising them.
- Lack of education: Girls who are not educated are more likely to be married off early.
- Social norms: In some communities, early marriage is seen as the norm and girls are expected to marry young.
- Gender inequality: Girls are often seen as less valuable than boys and are therefore more likely to be married off early.
Benefits of late marriage
There are a number of benefits to late marriage, both for individuals and for society as a whole. For individuals, late marriage can lead to:
- Increased education: Girls who are not married early are more likely to stay in school and complete their education.
- Improved employment opportunities: Women with higher levels of education are more likely to find employment and earn a higher income.
- Better health outcomes: Women who marry later are less likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Increased empowerment: Women who marry later have more time to develop their own skills and interests, which can lead to greater empowerment.
For society as a whole, late marriage can lead to:
- Lower rates of poverty: When girls are not married early, they are more likely to stay in school and get a job, which can lead to increased economic opportunities for families and communities.
- Improved health outcomes: When women marry later, they are less likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth, which can lead to a healthier population overall.
- Increased gender equality: When women have more opportunities to pursue their education and careers, it can lead to greater gender equality in society.
Challenges of early marriage
There are a number of challenges that girls face when they are married early, including:
- Health risks: Girls who marry early are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy and childbirth, including anemia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. They are also more likely to die in childbirth.
- Education: Girls who marry early are less likely to complete their education. This can limit their employment opportunities and earning potential in the future.
- Economic dependence: Girls who marry early are more likely to be economically dependent on their husbands. This can make them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation.
- Social isolation: Girls who marry early may be isolated from their friends and family. This can make it difficult for them to get help if they are experiencing problems in their marriage.
Early marriage is a major social issue in India that has a number of negative consequences for individuals and for society as a whole. There are a number of factors that contribute to early marriage, including poverty, lack of education, social norms, and gender inequality. There are also a number of challenges that girls face when they are married early, including health risks, education, economic dependence, and social isolation. There are a number of things that can be done to address the issue of early marriage, including increasing awareness of the harmful effects of early marriage, providing girls with access to education and employment opportunities, and changing social norms around early marriage.