Child Marriage: A survey conducted by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has revealed that more than 11.5 lakh children in 27 states and 7 union territories are at risk of child marriage. Most of these include children who have dropped out of school, children who do not go to school, or children who have been absent from school for a long time without any information. According to NCPCR report, most of them are girls.
According to a Times of India report, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of more than 5 lakh children found ‘vulnerable’ to child marriage, while 1.5 lakh children in Assam and about 1 lakh children in Madhya Pradesh are included in this category. Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands reported no children at risk of child marriage. The report also said that many districts have still not conducted this survey. Whereas Goa and Ladakh did not share any data.
This campaign started in March
The campaign by NCPCR was launched in March this year, a month before Akshaya Tritiya, which is considered to be a time of increase in child marriage cases. Under this campaign, more than 6 lakh schools in about 3 lakh villages and blocks in 27 states and 7 union territories were surveyed.
What did NCPCR Chairman Priyank Kanungo say?
NCPCR Chairman Priyank Kanungo, while talking to ‘Times of India’ on Wednesday (16 October), the last day of his tenure, said that “sending children to school continuously is an important measure to prevent child marriage.” In such a situation, all states should identify those children who have dropped out of school, do not go to school, or do not attend school regularly. If necessary, the parents of these children should be counseled.
State government took concrete steps against child marriage
The objective of this campaign is to ensure regularity in the education of children and to make their families aware to prevent child marriage. After the report came out, NCPCR has requested the states to prepare a list of children at risk of child marriage as soon as possible and take concrete steps against child marriage.
