Lok Sabha Question No. 1769 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-16
Subject: Upsurge in Cases of Child Marriage
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1769 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.12.2022

## UPSURGE IN CASES OF CHILD MARRIAGE

## 1769.  DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

Will the Minister of Women and Child Development be pleased to state:

- ( a) whether  the  Ministry  has  taken  into  cognizance  that  there  is  a  34  per  cent upsurge in cases registered under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 in the year 2021 as compared to 2020;
- (b) if so, whether the Ministry has proposed to take corrective steps to mitigate these rising concerns, if so, the details thereof along with the time by which it is likely to be implemented;
- (c) whether the Ministry has undertaken steps to take further stringent measures to deter the rising tendency of child marriage across the country; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, whether the Ministry is planning to draw a plan of action to address the concern, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to  (d):  The  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  compiles  and  publishes  the data on the number of cases of child marriage registered under 'the Prohibition of Child Marriage  Act  (PCMA),  2006'  in  its  publication  'Crime  in  India'.  The  said  report  is available upto the year 2021. As per the report, the number of cases of child marriages registered  during  the  year  2020  and  2021  are  785  and  1050  respectively.   Higher reporting of cases does not necessarily reflect increase in the number of cases of child marriages, but it may be because of increased awareness among citizens to report such incidents due to initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), Women Helpline

(181) and Childline (1098) implemented by the Ministry and better enforcement of law by States/ UTs.

'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh  Schedule  to  the Constitution  of  India.  The  responsibilities  to  maintain  law  and  order,  protection  of  life and property of the citizens, investigation and prosecution of crime against women and children including prohibition of child marriages, rest with the respective State Governments. The State Governments are competent to deal with such offenses under the extant provisions of laws.

'The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006' authorises the State Government to appoint for the whole State, or such part thereof as may be specified, an officer or officers  to  be  known   as   the   'Child  Marriage  Prohibition  Officers  (CMPO)'  having jurisdiction  over  the  area  or  areas  specified  in  the  notification.  This  section  also specifies   the  functions  to  be  discharged  by  CMPOs,  which  also  include  preventing solemnisation  of  child  marriages  by  taking  such   action   as   they   may  deem  fit;  to collect evidence for the effective prosecution of persons contravening the provisions of the Act; to advise the individuals  or counsel the residents of the locality not to indulge in promoting,  helping,  aiding  or  allowing  the  solemnisation  of  child  marriages;  to  create awareness about the ill effects of child marriages; and to sensitize the community on the issue of child marriages.  These  authorities function under  the respective State Governments/ UT Administrations.  As such, implementation of the provisions of the Act lies with them.

The  Central  Government  also  undertakes  awareness  drives,  media  campaigns  and outreach  programs  and  issues  advisories  to  the  States/  UTs  from  time  to  time  to highlight  evil  effects  of  this  practice.  Further,  the  Ministry  of  Women  and  Child Development implements 'Mission Shakti', an umbrella scheme for safety, security and empowerment of women. Under the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP)' component of 'Sambal'  sub-scheme   of 'Mission Shakti', awareness generation on matters pertaining to  gender  equality  and  discouraging  child  marriage  is  an  important  focus  area.  The National Commission  for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR)  also undertakes awareness  programs  and  consultations  with  stakeholders  from  time  to  time  in  this regard.

In  addition,  Government  of  India  is  running  Childline  with  short  code  1098,  a  24X7 telephone  emergency  outreach  service  for  children  in  crisis  which  responds  with suitable interventions to call for any form of assistance which a child requires, including for  prevention  of  child  marriages  in  coordination  with  police,  CMPOs,  District  Child Protection Units etc.

*****