Issue of Child Marriage

• 11 Oct 2024

On 10th October 2024, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) identified over 11 lakh children vulnerable to child marriage in 2023-24, taking preventive steps through family counselling, school reintegration, and law enforcement efforts.

• The NCPCR collaborated with child marriage prohibition officers (CMPOs), district authorities, and other stakeholders under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, to address the issue.
• Over 1.2 crore people across India were reached through awareness campaigns, with Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh leading in the fight against child marriage.
• Uttar Pradesh alone identified over 5 lakh children at risk of dropping out of school, which a significant factor is contributing to child marriages, with proactive measures taken to address the issue.
• Preventive steps included family counselling, school reintegration, and efforts by local officials to map schools and identify children who had been absent for 30 consecutive days without notice.
• In states like Karnataka and Assam, officials held over 40,000 meetings with religious leaders, marriage service providers, and Anganwadi workers to raise awareness and prevent child marriages involving minors.