Delhi ranks 19th in child marriage in India putting the spotlight on the menace experienced across the country

Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation conducts consultation with civil society members in Delhi to stop child marriage

New Delhi, Sep 28: Delhi ranks 19th among 29 Indian states in child marriages in the country. The national capital of the country, despite being one of the most urbanized city continues to see instances of child marriage highlighting the gravity of the menace. According to Census 2011, around 84,277 children were married off before turning 18 years.

With an effort to curb this menace, Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi's Children's Foundation (KSCF) announced their upcoming "Child Marriage Free India" campaign in New Delhi today. In this regard, a state consultation was held to mobilise all stakeholders of child protection to move together and help in the realisation of Child Marriage-Free India. KSCF co-organised the consultation with the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) and Delhi Government.

KSCF began nationwide consultations after the recent appeal by Kailash Satyarthi for a sustained campaign across the country to make India child marriage-free.

At the state-level consultation the key points discussed were appointment of Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO), mandatory FIR registration in cases of child marriage and incentivization of parents to motivate them to not marry their under-age children.

The National Family Health Survey-V (NFHS 2019-21) reports that nationally 23.3% women between the age group of 20-24 were married off before attaining the age of 18. In this context, it is important to highlight the status of child marriage in Delhi, according to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report 2019-21, the number of child marriages in Delhi has been fluctuating, from 2 in 2019 to 4 in 2020 to again 2 in 2021. However, NCRB data suggests that cases of only 8 children were registered under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) during 2019-21. This means there is gross under-reporting of the child marriages in the state, which needs to be addressed to stop the evil practice and create fear of law amongst the culprits indulging in such crimes.

The consultation deliberated on pertinent issues linked to child marriage and legal applications to stop the evil practice. Among the key issues discussed in the consultations included mandatory registration of FIR in cases of child marriage to ensure appropriate action takes place, linking child marriage with Juvenile Justice (care and protection) Act and POCSO Act for penalising the perpetrators of crime. Further, it was deliberated on appointment of CMPO at the district level across the country and adequate and proper training to the official and incentivization for the parents.

Key dignitaries present on this occasion included Member, DCPCR, Ranjana Prasad, MLA, Burari, Sanjay Jha, former DGP-UP, Sutapa Sanyal, Child Leader, Bal Mitra Mandal, Nisha, Prof. Dhananjay Joshi, Vice Chancellor, Delhi Teachers University, Ms. Naina Sahastrabudhe from Bhartiya Stree Shakti and Mr. Manoj Verma Senior Anchor, Sansad TV.

Speaking on the occasion ,Ms. Yogita Gupta Assistant Director (Child Protection Unit), Delhi Government
"Child marriage plucks the wings of the children. Education will give them the wings and provide them with the opportunity to contribute to build a strong and great Nation".

Speaking on the occasion, Chairperson, DCPCR, Anurag Kundu said, "Child Marriage is not only a social evil but a pervasive discrimination of rights of boys and girls and violence against children. It needs strengthening of system with joint collaboration of all sectors including social welfare, education, health, police, judiciary, child rights and human rights bodies and the department of Women and Child Development etc".

Highlighting the adverse impact of child marriage on children and why we must act to stop the social evil, Executive Director of KSCF, Rakesh Senger said, "Child marriage is an evil that continues in our society and should be looked as a crime against children. It hinders the complete development of children. All stakeholders like government agencies and law enforcement agencies must make collective effort to stop the practice. In this regard, our organization under the leadership of Kailash Satyarthi will work closely with the state government, law enforcement agencies and civil society groups towards a child-marriage free Delhi".