What are the reasons that force parents to break the laws?
Why the Child Marriage Restraint Act is not strictly enforced by the State Government concerned?
Vrij said…
Most of these cases happen in rural areas. Caste politics prevents any law enforcer to take up the issue as the politicians ignore these cases just to secure their vote banks.
nz said…
Hmmmm.....is it still going on ? And if it is still happening then it could be bcos no one really wants to get involved in someone else's personal matter - dont you have to bring to the authority's attention for them to act on it ? Moreover, when I think about from where I live - I am pretty happy that atleast they are getting married (there in India).But my personal opinion - even 18 is way too young to get married. Ideally, they should first complete their education and become financially independent.
Has to be me said…
I think it cud be cos of illiteracy & poverty. Maybe those parents wanna shudder off their responsibility by marrying off their girl child into another family & feel that their duty ends there.
lostpatrol53 said…
Going by statistics of BIMARU states Vs Others Vs National Average, literacy and education is a factor. Social acceptability of laws is another. Our job is cut out. Laws must be communicated in a manner the society accepts them as aimed at its benefit. At family level, parents fear more trust less; they do not have faith in their own daughters. The men put too much stress on 'virgi' brides. The mothers attach too much importance to 'khandan ki ijjat aur maryada'. A RSS functionary decried colleges as a place where Hindu girls find their moslem yaars and run away with them, thus ranting against college education for girls. At community level, 'naak kat gayegi' is a major motivation to have the women married. Go to my post 'Will you marry my daughter after she is 26?', (o3.indiatimes.com/lostpatrol53/archive/2006/07/07/946829.aspx) This is a real question thrown at me at the wedding of my classmate was married of at 16....
savy said…
it is mere shirking the responsibility of so called daughter watch...the paranoa of sumthing"bad" happening as the girl matures takes hold of better senses..as far as I know..this is the main n only reason.they love to wash hands off the additional burden of vigilance.
umesh said…
Child marriage is a curse to the society. with the marriage, child's education is sacrificed. Girls become vulnerable to domestic violence. they are weakened by early pregnency. sixty per cent babies born to under 17 year old mothers, die during first year itself. Parents prefer earley marriages to reduce multiple marriage cost, and to relieve from the burden of feeding and education.and sometimes protect the girl's honour througout adolscence. India's campaign to stop child marriages is failed and it is a half hearted attempt. Law is weak. Parents can't be sentenced for more than three months. Although child marriages are unlawful, but the marriage is valid, once performed. Neither he political parties nor the legal fraternity is keen to solve this problem. Reason is illitracy and people are ignorant to know the truth. cheers,
frenchita said…
parents break the laws against child marriages because 1. its easier to palm off a young girl ....shes more sellable .. 2.she has no say in it and so it becomes the parents' choice ..even if the boy is cross eyed or lame ...she has to accept it 3. the paretns of the boy ..should they find an offer with lots of dowry will not wait ..but grab the opportunity 4. the earlier the marraige ..one less mouth to feed 5. if the girl marries early ..and has many children ..especially boys ..they can be made to work in the fields and rendered useful.. lousy deal ! like any other law , the govt has not been able to enforce this one too why 1.lot of money has been passed around 2 so the officials look the other way 3.no punishment is given to the perpetrators