OUR STAFF REPORTER BHOPAL
Cases of child marriage are declining fast in Madhya Pradesh.
As a result of meaningful efforts by the State Government, only 3.3 percent cases of child marriage of girls ( below the age of 18 years
) have come to the fore in the year 2010 as compared to 25.3 percent in the year 2001.
Thus, a decline of 87 percent has been registered in child marriage cases in the state during this period, according to Sample Registration Survey Report ( SRS) 2010.
Maximum number of child marriage cases has been registered in Jharkhand followed by Rajasthan and West Bengal. According to the survey, the national average of the age of girls at the time of marriage is 22.4 in the urban and 20.5 in the rural areas.
Marriages of 13 percent girls are being solemnised before attaining the age of 18 years, followed by 10 percent girls in Rajasthan, 8.2 percent in West Bengal, 7.2 percent in Bihar and 6.3 percent in Orissa.
The cases of girlsalt39 marriage before the age of 18 have declined by 61 percent in India.
In this connection, Haryana has registered decline of 89 percent, Madhya Pradesh 87 percent, Karnataka 77 percent and Assam 71 percent.
The main reason behind steep decline in child marriage cases in Madhya Pradesh is the constant efforts made by the State Government for preventing child marriages during the last 8- 9 years.
A large- scale campaign is launched every year before Akshaya Tritiya for prevention of child marriages.
The campaign has increased mass awareness and also instilled fear of Child Marriage Prevention Act among people.
The object of the State Government is to get Madhya Pradesh declared as alt39 Zero Child Marriage Statealt39. Chief Minister Chauhan has written a letter to members of his council of ministers to ensure that no child marriage takes place anywhere in the state on Akshaya Tritiya on April 24. Minister of State for Woman and Child Development ( Independent charge) Ranjana Baghel has also appealed to Members of Parliament, MLAs, panchas, sarpanchas, all other peoples representatives and people to help root out this social evil.
She informed that a mass awareness campaign to prevent child marriages is being conducted this year also.
Appealing to citizens to cooperate in prevention of child marriages, Baghel has urged them that if they notice a child marriage being solemnised then they should give information about it immediately to the concerning district collector or the police.
Only 3.3 percent below- 18 girls got married in 2010
