The time since the Indian Govt. has shown serious concerns with regards to the amendment in the legal age of marriage for women, there has been a state of ‘panic weddings’ in the country. Presently, the legal age of marriage for a woman is 18 years whereas for a man the corresponding age is 21.
The respective ages were prescribed as the minimum age for marriage as per The Special Marriage Act 1954, The Hindu Marriage Act 1955, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006. Since the Indian Govt is now serious about raising the age of marriage for women and bringing it at par with that of men, many amendments would be required to be made.
Women’s Legal Age of Marriage: Amends and Re-examination
Source: Youtube
Marriage and pregnancy are two life-changing decisions for a woman. The more wise the decision is, the better their life will be. As we always say, we need to keep up with the pace of the changing times. It not only applies to human beings but also to the legal system we have in the country.
Laws and rules are made for the betterment of the country and not the other way around. If some rules tend to halt the up-gradation of a developing nation, then such rules indeed require amends. The need to re-examine the legal age of marriage for women arose because of tons of reasons, one of them being gender neutrality and equality.
We live in the 21st century, we need to understand that people have become more progressive with time and if the rules still remain regressive, then it will indeed affect the growth of an individual, particularly a girl, the society, and the country in the long run.
Source: News18
The Non-Contradictory Cons of Early Marriage
An early-age marriage followed by consequent early pregnancies tends to mold a woman’s life in a way she was never ready for. It affects a girl physically and mentally, that, too, for her entire life. In fact, early marriage is one of the chief reasons for the high Infant and Maternal Mortality Rate in the country.
Marrying off a girl in her early 20s leaves her devoid of access to education, independence, and livelihood. When the legal age of marriage for girls and boys was changed from 15 years to 18 years and 18 years to 21 years respectively in 1978, many statistics improved such as child marriages reduced, people progressed partially as many girls at least completed their graduation. But now we have reached a stage where India as a nation needs to take its further leap.
Source: DNA India
The Reality Check of 2021
As per the 2019 data presented by the Govt. of India, the average age of marriage of a girl in India is 22.1 years. Indeed the figure has gone up over the years and the major reason for that is education and employment opportunities. But now, it's high time that we focus on how we can further grow as a nation.
Today, the real-life situation is that girls’ education is acceptable, girls going to colleges for graduation is also acceptable, young women enjoying financial independence via corporate jobs, Govt. jobs, etc. is also fine to some extent but when we talk about higher education, setting up a business, switching jobs for exploration, etc., then only a few girls manage to get that consent because that marital pressure starts building up through families, relatives and so on.
If the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2021 Gets Passed
If the legal age of marriage for women is increased to 21 and hence, brought at par with that of men, India would truly take a leap forward towards progression in a real sense. The girls belonging to well-off families will have brighter chances to go for higher education and pursue their dreams because they will have more of their life’s precious time to themselves to think about what they want to do and become in the future.
Those girls who belong to socially weaker sections of society will also have more time as raising the age would strictly prohibit families from indulging in illegal and early marriages.
It’s high time to grow as people and promote a progressive bill. The passing of this bill would be an indication that change is indeed the law of nature and if the change needs to happen for the better, then we as intelligent bureaucrats, politicians, and individuals should welcome it with open arms.
Written By - Devika Thapar
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