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| Practice of Legislation regarding Prohibition of Child Marriage in Rural Society of Haryana: An Application of Social Work | |||||||
| Paper Id :
17534 Submission Date :
2023-03-15 Acceptance Date :
2023-03-21 Publication Date :
2023-03-25
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| Abstract |
Child marriage is not considered as an ideal practice of any responsible and civilized society. Government has enacted a legislations to stop child marriage in India and it can be said that people are aware about the child marriage in modern era and they agree that child marriage is not hood for people, family and society as well. But it is also the reality that the child marriage incidents still prevails in our society. Despite of anti-child marriage laws, the problem is increasing day by day in Haryana. We can see the consequence of Child marriage on girl and boy child who involved in, as well as on the wider society. Researcher has applied exploratory-cum-diagnostic research design. The 200 respondents are selected through simple random sampling from 5 villages of the Sonepat District of Haryana. The respondents include parents, school/college going youth, key persons, PRI members and SHGs members and other community people. Primary data was collected through interview schedule with a set of close ended and open ended questions. The secondary data is also applied as per the requirements, which was taken from various library, books, magazines and online sources. It is concluded that the education level, occupation and sex are the main factors of influencing the awareness level about the child marriage legislation in rural areas. The majority of respondents are aware about the child marriage but their awareness level about legislation is not up to the mark. It is recommended that Social work intervention has a great role in this, hence the all primary methods as well as secondary methods can play a pivotal role in disseminating the awareness about the child marriage legislation
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| Keywords | Child Marriage, Prohibition, Tender Age, Socio-Economic Condition, Probation Officer, Social Work Intervention. | ||||||
| Introduction |
Child marriage is one of the major problem in our Indian society, which affecting the mental and physical health of the boy or girl child. In spite of various anti-child marriage laws, the problem is increasing day by day in Haryana. We can see the consequence of Child marriage on girl and boy child who involved in, as well as on the wider society. UNICEF outlined the Child marriage as “a violation of child rights. Whether it happens to a boy or a girl, child marriage challenges the right to health, education, protection and development” (UNICEF, 2012). Child marriage continues to flourish in rural areas of India. According to UNCIEF report, improving Children’s Lives, Transforming the Future, 25 years of child rights in South Asia, India has the second-highest number of child marriages. . According to the 2001 census there are 1.5 million girls in India that are under the age of 15 years and already married. The 2001 census also estimated the average age of marriage has risen to 18.3 for females. The male average is 22 years (Child line India). Rates of child marriage are higher in the North-West and lower in the South-East of the country. The states with the highest rates of child marriage (50:00% and above) are Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. But states with low prevalence may also have high rates of child marriage.
Situation of Child Marriage in Haryana
As per census 2011, the Total population of Haryana is 25,351,462 of which male and female are 13,494,734 and 11,856,728 and according to census 2001, total population of Haryana was 21,144,564 out of which males were 11,363,953 and females were 9,780,611. The Data shows the deviating patterns of sex ratio of Haryana from 2001 to 2011. Due to low sex ratio, in Haryana many peoples purchase the brides from poorest states like Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Madhaya Pradesh. These paid Brides are mostly under the age of 18 years. The cases of Child marriage in Haryana increasing day by day due to lack of awareness about child marriage prohibition laws, lack of education, poor economic conditions of the family, unemployment, Dowry system of the society, social insecurity, role of local khap panchayat and harmful social norms.
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| Objective of study | 1. To study the socio-economic profile of the rural community people.
2. To know the awareness level about child marriage legislation among the people.
3. To explore the scope of social work application in disseminating awareness about child marriage legislation. |
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| Review of Literature | Panchal et al (2020) in his
study, it was explored that the child marriage incidents still prevails in the
Haryana. The monetary benefits given by the Government to motivate the parents
not to do child marriage of their children, has shown its impact on controlling
the Child Marriage. The Protection Officer has important role in awareness,
prevention and controlling of child marriage incidents in Haryana. The
effective implementation of the child marriage prohibition related Act will
prove instrumental in mitigating this social problem.
Singh et al (2016), has studied
about the factors responsible for child marriage in India. Author explored that
various socio-cultural, political and economic factors are responsible for
child marriage in India. These factors includes, illiteracy, lack of proper
awareness, lack of proper employment, gender issues and lack of interest of
political system etc.On the basis of
the above review of literature, it is found that child marriage still prevails
in India but the awareness level and implementation of the law in not up to the
mark. Through, researcher wants to study the level of awareness and
implementation of the legislation regarding child marriage prohibition in
Sonepat District. |
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| Main Text |
Research Methodology Researcher has applied exploratory-cum-diagnostic research design. The 200 respondents are selected through simple random sampling from 5 villages of the Sonepat District of Haryana. The respondents include parents, school/college going youth, key persons, PRI members and SHGs members and other community people. Primary data was collected through interview schedule with a set of close ended and open ended questions. The secondary data is also applied as per the requirements, which was taken from various library, books, magazines and online sources.
The above table shows the facts about socio-economic profile of the respondents. About the Sex wise Distribution of Respondents, 47 percent are male and 53 percent are female. About the Age wise Distribution of Respondents, 12.5 percent are upto 20 years, 31 percent are 20 to 40, 40.5 percent are 40 to 60 and 16 percent are above 60. About the category wise distribution of the respondents, 33.5 percent are belonging to general category, 34.5 percent are belonging to backward category, and 22 percent belong to the Scheduled Cast. About the Education Level wise Distribution of Respondents, 15 .5 percent are illiterate, 31 percent are Up to Primary Schooling, 24.5 percent are Up to Secondary Schooling, and 15.5 percent are Up to Senior Secondary Schooling, 13.5 percent Graduation and above. About the Marital Status wise Distribution of the Respondents, 70 percent are married,19 percent are unmarried, 4.5 percent are widow, 3 percent are widower, 1.5 percent are separate, and 2 percent are divorcee. About the Occupation Wise Distribution of the Respondents, 38 percent are Agriculture, 14.5 percent are Daily Wagers, 3.5 percent are Self- Employment, 9.5 percent are service, 32.5 percent are unemployed, 2 percent respondents engaged in any other work.
The above table shows the Awareness about the legislation for
Child Marriage prohibition of the respondents. About the Awareness of Child
Marriage 54 percent respondents replied yes and 36 respondents replied no and
10 percent respondents not replied. About the Awareness about the legislation
for Child Marriage prohibition, 45 percent respondents replied yes, 39
percent respondents replied no, 16 percent respondents replied can’t say. About
the minimum age of the Girl and boy for marriage in your Community/area, 42
percent respondents answered about the age group of Girls-18-Boy-21, 12 percent
respondents answered about the age group of Girls-16-Boy-18, 10 percent
respondents replied any other, 36 percent respondents can’t say anything. About
to do the marriage of their children according to the age 92 percent
respondents said yes, 8 percent respondents replied can’t say. About the
Effects of Child Marriage on Girl child 72 percent respondents told
Physical effect, 57 percent respondents told Psychological effect, 37 percent
respondents told Educational effect, 11 percent told Social effect and 16
percent respondents told any other. About the Effects of Child Marriage on Boy
child, 22 percent respondents told Physical effect, 34 percent respondents told
Psychological effect, 16 percent respondents told Educational effect, 9 percent
respondents told Social and 34 percent respondents told any other. Aware about
Child Marriage related punishment, 23 percent respondents replied yes, 60
percent respondents replied no and 17 percent respondents replied can’t say.
Aware about Govt. Departments/other institutions for child marriage
prohibition, 18 percent respondents replied yes, 60 percent respondents replied
no and 22 percent respondents replied can’t say. About the Child Marriage
should be prohibited or not, 83 percent respondents replied yes 3 percent
respondents replied no and 4 percent respondents replied can’t say. The
legislation to stop child marriage is effectively implemented or not, 7 percent
respondents replied yes 81 percent respondents replied no and 12 percent
respondents replied can’t say. About the suggestions for society/ people to
stop child marriage, 72 percent respondents told Awareness generation
programmes, 81 percent respondents told Educational facilities, 92 percent
respondents told Proper implementation of laws, 16 percent respondents told
Health education, 11 percent respondents told any other. About the suggestion
about effective implementation of legislation related to child marriage
prohibition, 85 percent respondents told Strong monitoring of
govt/Authority, 35 percent respondents told Awareness about legislation, 22
percent respondents told Participation of public/local self-governess, 06
percent respondents told Role of education institution, 05 percent respondents told
Any other. |
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| Findings | 1. 47 percent are male and 53 percent are female. About the Age wise Distribution of Respondents, 12.5 percent are upto 20 years, 31 percent are 20 to 40, 40.5 percent are 40 to 60 and 16 percent are above 60. About the category wise distribution of the respondents, 33.5 percent are belonging to general category, 34.5 percent are belonging to backward category, and 22 percent belong to the Scheduled Cast. About the Education Level wise Distribution of Respondents, 15 .5 percent are illiterate, 31 percent are Up to Primary Schooling, 24.5 percent are Up to Secondary Schooling, and 15.5 percent are Up to Senior Secondary Schooling, 13.5 percent Graduation and above. About the Occupation Wise Distribution of the Respondents, 38 percent are Agriculture, 14.5 percent are Daily Wagers, 3.5 percent are Self- Employment, 9.5 percent are service, 32.5 percent are unemployed, 2 percent are any other. 2. Awareness of Child Marriage 54 percent respondents replied yes and 36 respondents replied no. About the Awareness about the legislation for Child Marriage prohibition 45 percent respondents replied yes, 39 percent respondents replied no, 16 percent respondents replied can’t say. About the minimum age of the Girl and boy for marriage in your Community/area, 42 percent respondents answered about the age group of Girls-18-Boy-21, 12 percent respondents answered about the age group of Girls-16-Boy-18, 10 percent respondents replied. About to do the marriage of their children according to the age 92 percent respondents said yes. About the Effects of Child Marriage on Girl child 72 percent respondents told Physical effect, 57 percent respondents told Psychological effect, 37 percent respondents told Educational effect, 11 percent told Social effect. Aware the about Child Marriage related punishment 23 percent respondents replied yes 60 percent respondents replied no. Aware about Govt. The legislation to stop child marriage is effectively implemented or not, 7 percent respondents replied yes 81 percent respondents replied no. About the suggestions for society/ people to stop child marriage , 72 percent respondents told Awareness generation programmes, 81 percent respondents told Educational facilities, 92 percent respondents told Proper implementation of laws, 16 percent respondents told Health education, About the suggestion about effective implementation of legislation related to child marriage prohibition, 85 percent respondents told Strong monitoring of govt/Authority, 35 percent respondents told Awareness about legislation, 22 percent respondents told Participation of public/local self-governess, 06 percent respondents told Role of education institution. | ||||||
| Conclusion |
It is concluded that the education level, occupation and sex are the main factors of influencing the awareness level about the child marriage legislation in rural areas. The majority of respondents are aware about the child marriage but their awareness level about legislation is not up to the mark. The main suggestions are given by the respondents that education level, organizing awareness generation programmes and local self-governance can play an important role among the better awareness about the child marriage legislation. |
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| Suggestions for the future Study | Author recommended that education institutions can play important role. Social work intervention has a great role in this, hence the all primary methods as well as secondary methods can play a pivotal role in disseminating the awareness about the child marriage legislation. The Government should have effective monitoring and supervision on Department or institutions for prohibition of child marriage. | ||||||
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2. International Center for Research on Women (2012) Asia Child Marriage Initiative: Summary of Research in Bangladesh, India and Nepal (2013), at 17,
3. ICRW, (2017) Improving the Reproductive Health of Married and Unmarried Youth in India,
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8. S. Arushi, (2008) Ending child marriage in India, The Guardian. |
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