Lok Sabha Question No. 3372 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-08
Subject: Child Marriages
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Arun Bharti

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN & CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN- STARRED QUESTION NO. 3372 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2025

## CHILD MARRIAGES

## 3372.  SHRI ARUN BHARTI:

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

- (a) the details of the measures implemented to reduce child marriages in the country since the inception of laws aimed at preventing them;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to further enhance the effectiveness of existing legal frameworks to combat child marriage, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) the details of the role of civil society organizations in preventing child marriages along with the Government support for these initiatives;
- (d) whether any specific strategies are being implemented to raise awareness about the negative impacts of child marriage on girls' education and health; and
- (e) the manner in which the Government intend to monitor/evaluate the progress made in reducing child marriages across different States and communities?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (e): The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) has been enacted to prevent and curb  child  marriages  and  to  take  punitive  action  against  those  associated  with  the solemnisation of child marriages. Section 16 of the PCMA 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 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. All these authorities function under the direct administrative control and supervision of respective State Governments and  UT Administrations. Further, '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, rests with the respective State Governments  and  UT  Administrations;  they  are  competent  to  deal  with  such  offenses/ criminal acts.

Since, the enactment of PCMA, the prevalence of child marriage in the country has reduced to almost half from 47 % in National Family Health Survey -III (NFHS-III) conducted in 200506 to 23.3% in NFHS-V conducted in 2019-21. This shows that the law has a strong effect in prevention of child marriages in the country.

The Central Government undertakes awareness drives, media campaigns and outreach programs and issues advisories to the States and UTs from time to time to highlight evil effects of this practice. The Ministry has also written to all States and 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 increased 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 of '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. The National Legal Services Authority with its States and District arms also creates awareness about the ill- effects of child  marriage.  NALSA  has  issued  a  Standard  Operating  Procedure  (SOP)  to  its functionaries for effective prevention of child marriages in coordination with the statutory officers and other authorities. It also has a dedicated helpline 15100 which provides free legal aid to the specified sections of citizens including women and children.

In addition, Government of India has introduced Child Helpline with short code 1098, a tollfree 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  Child  Helpline  has  also  been  integrated  with  Emergency Response  Support  System  (ERSS-112)  to  provide  for  24x7x365  emergency  response, resources  and  services.  In  addition,  the  services  of  Women  Helpline  (181),  which  is integrated with the ERSS is also available round the clock to provide emergency and nonemergency assistance.

The Central Government launched 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' campaign on 27 th  November 2024 which focuses on making India child marriage free. It is one of the most important imperatives to promote education, skilling, enterprise and entrepreneurship among girls and women to realise the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' through 'whole of government' and 'whole of society' approach, including the civil society organisations. Under the campaign, a portal 'https://stopchildmarriage.wcd.gov.in' has been launched to support the States and 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.  The  portal  has information of more than 28000 CMPOs which is accessible by the public.

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