Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign UPSC: Full Explained

Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign UPSC: The Union women and child development minister of India recently launched the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign.”

Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign UPSC

Here are some key facts about the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (Child Marriage-Free India) campaign:

Fact	Details
Prevalence	23.3% of women aged 20-24 were married before age 18.
High Burden States	Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.
Legal Age	Minimum marriage age is 18 years, but exceptions exist.
Impact on Education	Fewer than 2 in 10 married girls remain in school.
Economic Factors	Poverty and dowry pressures contribute to early marriages.
Cultural Beliefs	Child marriage is seen as preserving family honor and protecting girls.
Safety Concerns	Some parents believe early marriage ensures their daughters’ safety.
Progress	Child marriage rates have declined from 47.4% in 2006 to 23.3% in 2019-21.
Government Initiatives	Programs like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aim to reduce child marriage.

Launch Date: The campaign was launched on November 27, 2024.
Objective: To eliminate child marriage in India and empower young girls
Key Focus Areas: The campaign targets seven high-burden states: West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
National Portal: A Child Marriage Free Bharat portal was introduced to report cases and raise awareness.
Pledge: A nationwide pledge against child marriage was administered across Gram panchayats and schools.
Community Involvement: The campaign involves multiple stakeholders, including government officials, NGOs, and community leaders.
Awareness Drives: Activities like marches, candlelight vigils, and roadshows are organized to raise awareness.
Legal Interventions: The campaign emphasizes the enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
Educational Initiatives: It aligns with the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao scheme to promote girls’ education.
Survivor Support: The campaign provides assistance and rehabilitation for survivors of child marriage.
Government Collaboration: The initiative is supported by various government schemes like Samagra Shiksha and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
Public Participation: The campaign aims to engage 25 crore citizens in the fight against child marriage.
Monitoring Progress: The portal helps monitor the progress of the campaign and track reported cases.
Cultural Programs: Events include cultural programs to educate and engage the community.
High-Burden Districts: Nearly 300 high-burden districts are targeted for intensive action.
Legal Penalties: Strict penalties are enforced for those involved in child marriages.
Global Recognition: India’s efforts have been recognized by the United Nations for contributing to the global decline in child marriage rates.
Empowerment Focus: The campaign emphasizes the empowerment of girls through education and skill development.
Community pledges: Service providers like caterers and wedding bands pledge not to facilitate child marriages.
Ongoing efforts: The campaign is part of a larger initiative by the Just Rights for Children alliance, involving over 250 NGOs.

Read also: Buddhism UPSC

Status of Child Marriage in India

As per the latest data, child marriages in India have halved from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 23.3% in 2019-21.
Now child marriage is declining in India due to some preventive measures taken by the government.
This decline is attributed to the implementation of the Prevention of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) in 2006 and various awareness campaigns, like the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Child Marriage-Free India Campaign).
As per the NFHS-5 data, there has been a substantial decrease in child marriage rates, from 47.4% in 2005-06 to 26.8% in 2015-16.
Over all, in many states of India, child marriage is declining. But some states, like West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura, still report higher rates of child marriage compared to the national average.

Key Reasons Behind Child Marriages in India

Child marriage remains a significant issue in India, despite efforts to curb it. Here are some key reasons behind child marriages in the country:

Lack of Education: Education is a major determinant of the age of marriage. Girls with no education or only primary education are more likely to marry before the age of 18
Economic Factors: Poverty and resource scarcity often lead families to marry off daughters early to reduce financial burdens, particularly dowries.
Cultural and traditional beliefs: In conservative settings, child marriage is seen as a way to preserve family honor, ensure virginity, and protect girls from premarital relationships.
Patriarchy and Gender Inequality: Girls are often viewed as economic liabilities, and marrying them off early is seen as a way to ease economic hardship.
Safety Concerns: Some parents believe that marrying their daughters early will ensure their safety from harassment or assault.
Legal and Enforcement Gaps: Weak law enforcement and lack of awareness, especially in rural areas, contribute to the continuation of child marriages.

Efforts like the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign” and the “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” program aim to address these root causes and empower girls to achieve their full potential.

Related initiatives launched by the government of India for girl child protection:

Here is the list of some important initiatives launched by the government of India for protection of child marriage in India:

Legal Provision:

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006:

It is the primary law addressing child marriage in India, which replaced the earlier Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929.
- Minimum Age of Marriage: The PCMA sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 for women and 21 for men.
- Punishments: Those who perform, conduct, or direct any child marriage can face rigorous imprisonment up to two years and/or a fine up to one lakh rupees.

Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs):