State consultation on Child Marriage

In my endeavor to understand the problems of child marriage prevalent in West Bengal, I came across State consultation on Child Marriage in West Bengal, a book recommended by Himalini.

It depicts the plight of girl child revealing the social norms prevalent in the society that have gone to the extent of making child marriage an unacceptable folk custom. With West Bengal ranking 7th highest in child marriage, and the decline rate less than most states, it seeks urgent redressal. The patriarchal society needs to be hindered from inflicting violence over girl child. Many illogical reasonings are associated with marrying the girl child at an early age. From the age old rigid social customs to socio-economic conditions, various issues govern the decision of marrying a girl who probably by then has not even attained puberty. What eventually leads to is a gruelling ordeal, where the little girl is no longer a girl, but an object left mercilessly at the whims of this crude society.

Key Findings:

1. 40% of the child marriages in the world take place in India.
2. 25.4% of girls are married by the age of 15.
3. Malda, Birbhum, Bankura, Murshidabad, South Dinajpur, Purulia, South 24 Parganas, Nadia and Cooch Behar are areas with the highest incidence of child marriage in the state.
4. Child Marriage is comparatively higher in those districts where even trafficking is predominant.
5. One-third of all teenage girls between 15-19  in West Bengal have begun child bearing.
6. More than 25% of girls are married to men who are ten or more years older to them.
7. According to the patriarchal society prevalent in West Bengal, families prefer to divest themselves of their daughters through an early marriage, by doing so funds and facilities can be diverted to male children as they are believed to have a much more important status in the family hierarchy.
8. The grooms from other states generally do not demand dowry. During such opportunities parents do not bother to investigate the origin of the bridegroom and his family and quickly marry them off.
9. Marriage is considered as a Safety and Security Solution for many. 
10. Percentage of child marriage is higher in minority communities.
11. Child marriage is higher in underdeveloped regions.
12. Children borne to girls of less than 18 years: 1 out of 21 die in the first year and 1 out of 17 die before reaching age five.
13. Fathers and other key adults should be targeted and discouraged from getting their daughters married at an early stage.
14. Potential victims of child marriage are all under 18.
15. Child Marriage has itself emerged as a tradition influenced by a combination of social, cultural and economic factors.