Sujata with her mother in her village in Odisha’s Kandhamal district ©Savvy Soumya Misra
Young girls are fighting child marriage in Odisha
Sujata, a 17-year old girl, from a small village in Kandhamal district in Odisha, did something different. It was not easy and she had to convince her parents and future in-laws. She wasn’t even sure of herself initially. But finally she took a decision. She decided not to marry till she turned 18.
Sujata’s parents were not happy about it and they wanted her to get married. Her father was annoyed and so were the other relatives. But Sujata didn’t buckle under pressure and stood her ground.
Fifteen-year-old Sunita too faced a similar dilemma but her situation was different. Sunita lost her father when she was five-years-old and lived with her mother and two sisters. So when the marriage proposal came, her mother was keen to accept it. Sunita vehemently opposed it and even threatened to go to the police if she was forced to marry.
Sujata and Sunita opposed early marriage and stood by their decisions but there are many other girls who are married at an early age, against their will. Last year, in Malkangiri, I met a young girl at an anganwadi centre. She had come with her seven month old child; her first child. She was hardly 18 and she had been married for about nine months. “This is not uncommon in these areas,” the anganwadi worker told me perhaps sensing my shock.
The first question that comes to my mind is ‘Who is responsible when a girl is wedded before she turns 18 and becomes a mother — Is it the parents, the in-laws, neighbours, teachers, government or the child herself?’
Does anyone think on how marrying early and giving birth to a child at such a young age affects both the physical and mental health of the young girl.
Adolescent girls becoming mothers at an early age are most vulnerable to health problems and pregnancy-related complications. India has the world’s largest child population at 400 million . As per the 2011 census, around 253 million of India’s children are adolescents (in the age group of 10-19 years).
India also has the highest number of child brides in the world. UNICEF’s State of World’s Children 2014 ranks India 12th among 20 countries with high rates of child marriages; India ranks first in absolute numbers though. Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have the highest incidence of child marriage. In Odisha, around 37 percent children marry before the legal age and this is rampant mostly in the southern districts.
While both the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) and District Level Health Survey (DLHS) data indicate a decline in child marriages, the percentage of girls marrying before the age of 18 remains on the higher side. Early marriage increases the possibility of early pregnancy and motherhood. This is important because of its implication on the health of the mother and child.
The Annual Health Survey data for the year of 2012-2013 reveals 43.4 percent women aged 15-19 years were already mothers or pregnant at the time of survey. Complications are very common for this category of expectant mothers and many times it also leads to maternal death. During the period of September 2014 to January 2015, as part of Oxfam India’s GPAF maternal health project, we conducted reviews of 34 maternal death cases. We found that 12 percent of the deceased women were in the age group of 15-19.
Social determinants like education play a major role in preventing early marriage and thereby have an impact on maternal health. An analysis of NFHS-3 data reflects the link between child marriage and education. Around 65 percent of women, in the age group of 20-24 years are married by the age of 18, had no education.
For men the number is much lower at 43 percent (within the age group of 25-29 and married by the age of 21). Data shows that 43 percent women, who were married by the age of 18, did go to school but could not continue beyond Class 8th.
However, among those who completed 10 years of schooling, only nine percent were married by the age of 18 years. This clearly shows that going to school and completing 10-12 years of education can reduce the number of child marriages to a great extent.
Child marriage is prohibited in India under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA). According to the 2006 Act, promoting or permitting child marriage is punishable with rigorous imprisonment of upto two years and a fine of upto one lakh rupees. However, the act is barely implemented.
Similarly the most important social determinant like education is poorly ensured. The primary responsibility lies with the government to ensure that all children are in schools and completing education. Apart from the government, the community too should be held responsible to monitor and protect the children. Perhaps the first step then could be to create informed adolescent groups and involve the community. This will help many more Sujatas’ and Sunitas’ to take a stand.
The author is Programme Officer-Essential Services, Oxfam India, Bhubaneswar
____________________________________________________________
http://www.cry.org/resources/pdf/types_of_corp_parts_sep11.pdf
http://www.unicef.org/media/files/Child_Marriage_Report_7_17_LR..pdf
Find out how Oxfam India is enabling communities by working to provide a life of dignity and equal opportunity for all.Get to know more about Oxfam India`s latest projects.
Read More27,Apr,2023 | Savvy
26,Apr,2023 | Savvy
17,Apr,2023 | Savvy
10,Apr,2023 | Savvy
07,Apr,2023 | Savvy
04,Apr,2023 | Savvy
30,Mar,2023 | Savvy
29,Mar,2023 | Savvy
29,Mar,2023 | Savvy
24,Mar,2023 | Savvy
23,Mar,2023 | Savvy
02,Mar,2023 | Savvy
27,Feb,2023 | Savvy
27,Feb,2023 | Savvy
22,Feb,2023 | Savvy
22,Dec,2022 | Savvy
24,Nov,2022 | Savvy
23,Nov,2022 | Savvy
23,Nov,2022 | Savvy
23,Nov,2022 | Savvy
14,Nov,2022 | Savvy
10,Oct,2022 | Savvy
06,Oct,2022 | Savvy
30,Sep,2022 | Savvy
19,Sep,2022 | Savvy
13,Sep,2022 | Savvy
01,Sep,2022 | Savvy
01,Sep,2022 | Savvy
22,Aug,2022 | Savvy
17,Aug,2022 | Savvy
09,Aug,2022 | Savvy
05,Aug,2022 | Savvy
03,Aug,2022 | Savvy
02,Aug,2022 | Savvy
01,Aug,2022 | Savvy
01,Aug,2022 | Savvy
28,Jul,2022 | Savvy
27,Jul,2022 | Savvy
27,Jul,2022 | Savvy
07,Jul,2022 | Savvy
09,Jun,2022 | Savvy
09,Jun,2022 | Savvy
30,May,2022 | Savvy
30,May,2022 | Savvy
29,May,2022 | Savvy
20,May,2022 | Savvy
18,May,2022 | Savvy
06,May,2022 | Savvy
05,May,2022 | Savvy
04,May,2022 | Savvy
02,May,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
28,Apr,2022 | Savvy
18,Apr,2022 | Savvy
05,Apr,2022 | Savvy
15,Mar,2022 | Savvy
07,Mar,2022 | Savvy
03,Mar,2022 | Savvy
02,Mar,2022 | Savvy
28,Feb,2022 | Savvy
28,Feb,2022 | Savvy
20,Feb,2022 | Savvy
18,Feb,2022 | Savvy
09,Feb,2022 | Savvy
03,Feb,2022 | Savvy
31,Jan,2022 | Savvy
31,Jan,2022 | Savvy
31,Jan,2022 | Savvy
25,Jan,2022 | Savvy
20,Jan,2022 | Savvy
16,Jan,2022 | Savvy
13,Jan,2022 | Savvy
07,Jan,2022 | Savvy
06,Jan,2022 | Savvy
03,Jan,2022 | Savvy
31,Dec,2021 | Savvy
23,Dec,2021 | Savvy
22,Dec,2021 | Savvy
16,Dec,2021 | Savvy
16,Dec,2021 | Savvy
08,Dec,2021 | Savvy
06,Dec,2021 | Savvy
04,Dec,2021 | Savvy
20,Nov,2021 | Savvy
13,Nov,2021 | Savvy
07,Nov,2021 | Savvy
07,Nov,2021 | Savvy
09,Oct,2021 | Savvy
07,Oct,2021 | Savvy
06,Oct,2021 | Savvy
05,Oct,2021 | Savvy
01,Oct,2021 | Savvy
23,Sep,2021 | Savvy
12,Sep,2021 | Savvy
06,Sep,2021 | Savvy
26,Aug,2021 | Savvy
15,Aug,2021 | Savvy
15,Aug,2021 | Savvy
02,Aug,2021 | Anisha
07,Jul,2021 | Savvy
13,Apr,2021 | Savvy
18,Mar,2021 | Savvy
10,Mar,2021 | Savvy
14,Feb,2021 | Savvy
11,Feb,2021 | Savvy
12,Jan,2021 | Savvy
12,Jan,2021 | Savvy
12,Jan,2021 | Savvy
28,Dec,2020 | Savvy
22,Dec,2020 | Savvy
17,Dec,2020 | Savvy
11,Dec,2020 | Savvy
24,Nov,2020 | Savvy
12,Oct,2020 | Anisha
01,Oct,2020 | Savvy
29,Sep,2020 | Savvy
25,Sep,2020 | Savvy
24,Sep,2020 | Savvy
14,Sep,2020 | Savvy
14,Sep,2020 | Savvy
03,Sep,2020 | Anisha
26,Aug,2020 | Savvy
25,Aug,2020 | Anisha
24,Aug,2020 | Savvy
21,Aug,2020 | Savvy
17,Aug,2020 | Savvy
16,Aug,2020 | Savvy
11,Aug,2020 | Savvy
07,Aug,2020 | Savvy
15,Jul,2020 | Savvy
15,Jul,2020 | Savvy
14,Jul,2020 | Savvy
01,Jul,2020 | Savvy
29,Jun,2020 | Savvy
29,Jun,2020 | Savvy
29,Jun,2020 | Savvy
25,Jun,2020 | Savvy
16,Jun,2020 | Savvy
09,Jun,2020 | Anonymous
02,Jun,2020 | Savvy
23,May,2020 | Savvy
21,May,2020 | Savvy
18,May,2020 | Savvy
17,May,2020 | radhika
16,May,2020 | radhika
07,May,2020 | radhika
06,May,2020 | Savvy
27,Mar,2020 | Anisha
03,Mar,2020 | Anisha
03,Mar,2020 | Anisha
04,Feb,2020 | Anisha
30,Jan,2020 | Anisha
20,Nov,2019 | Anisha
05,Nov,2019 | Anisha
30,Oct,2019 | Anisha
17,Sep,2019 | Anisha
23,Jul,2019 | Anisha
05,Jul,2019 | Anisha
27,Jun,2019 | Anisha
21,May,2019 | admin
21,May,2019 | admin
21,May,2019 | admin
21,May,2019 | admin
26,Apr,2019 | Anisha
18,Apr,2019 | Anisha
05,Apr,2019 | Anisha
19,Mar,2019 | ursila
19,Mar,2019 | ursila
15,Mar,2019 | ursila
15,Mar,2019 | ursila
27,Feb,2019 | Anisha
04,Feb,2019 | ursila
31,Dec,2018 | ursila
31,Dec,2018 | ursila
31,Dec,2018 | ursila
04,Dec,2018 | tiasdutta
03,Dec,2018 | ursila
01,Dec,2018 | ursila
01,Dec,2018 | ursila
01,Dec,2018 | ursila
15,Nov,2018 | Anisha
03,Nov,2018 | admin
03,Nov,2018 | admin
03,Nov,2018 | admin
12,Oct,2018 | Anisha
27,Sep,2016 | oxfamadmin
19,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
09,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
03,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
03,Aug,2016 | oxfamadmin
28,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
20,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
16,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
15,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
14,Jul,2016 | oxfamadmin
27,May,2016 | oxfamadmin
04,Apr,2016 | oxfamadmin
22,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
18,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
16,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
14,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
11,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
10,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
02,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
01,Mar,2016 | oxfamadmin
29,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
12,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
05,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
04,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
01,Feb,2016 | oxfamadmin
25,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
13,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
08,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
06,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
06,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
04,Jan,2016 | oxfamadmin
31,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,Dec,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Nov,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Oct,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
19,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
19,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
15,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
11,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Sep,2015 | oxfamadmin
31,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
19,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
18,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
14,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Aug,2015 | Avantika
11,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Aug,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
14,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,Jul,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
18,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
15,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
14,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
11,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,Jun,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
13,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
10,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
09,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
05,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
01,May,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
21,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Apr,2015 | Avantika
16,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
11,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
08,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
03,Apr,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
24,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
23,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
17,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
12,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
07,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
04,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
02,Mar,2015 | oxfamadmin
28,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
27,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
26,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
25,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
16,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Feb,2015 | oxfamadmin
30,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
22,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
20,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
06,Jan,2015 | oxfamadmin
29,Dec,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
22,Nov,2014 | oxfamadmin
07,Nov,2014 | abhij89
04,Sep,2014 | Anonymous
03,Sep,2014 | Anonymous