Lok Sabha Question No. 4195 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-20
Subject: Protection of Girls
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B, Shri Vijayakumar Alias Vijay Vasanth

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4195

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.12.2024

## PROTECTION OF GIRLS

## 4195.  SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR ALIAS VIJAY VASANTH: SHRI MANICKAM TAGORE B:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that as per recent reports, 20% of women in the 20-24 age group in the country are married before the age of 18, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  to  eliminate  child  marriage  and ensure the protection of girls in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SAVITRI THAKUR )

(a): As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted in 2019-21, 23.3% of women aged 20- 24 years were married before the age of 18 years. This shows that prevalence of child marriage which was approximately 47% reported under NFHS-3 conducted in 2005-06 i.e. since enactment of the 'The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act,  2006'  (PCMA)  has  reduced by  half  during  the  period  2019-21  reported  under NFHS- 5.

(b): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India. The responsibility 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/ UT Administrations; they are competent to deal with such offenses/ criminal acts.

Government has enacted PCMA to curb child marriages and to take punitive action against those associated with child marriages. Section 16 of the PCMA authorises the State Government to appoint for the whole State, or such part there of 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  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 at its level 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. The Ministry has also written to all States/ UTs to increase the number of CMPOs, as presence of Statutory Officer at local levels results in  even  more  effective  public  engagement  on  the  subject  and  prevention  of solemnisation of child marriage. Further, the Ministry of  Women  and  Child Development (MWCD) implements the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) component under the umbrella scheme 'Mission Shakti', wherein creation of awareness 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 has introduced 'Child Helpline' with short code 1098, a toll-free 24X7X365 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. The ChildLine has also been integrated with  Emergency  Response  Support  System  (ERSS-112)  to  provide  for  24x7x365 emergency  and  nonemergency  response  and  services.  Further,  the  Ministry  of Women  and  Child  Development  launched  'Bal  Vivah  Mukt  Bharat'  campaign  on 27.11.2024 at New Delhi. Under the campaign, a portal 'https://stopchildmarriage.wcd.gov.in' has been launched to support the States/UTs in raising awareness against child marriage and for effective reporting and prevention of incidences  of  child  marriage.  The  portal  also  has  facility  to  provide  information  to citizens about Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) of all States/ UTs.

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