Karnataka is making incredible strides in the fight against child marriage, with a recent study revealing one of the nation’s most significant declines. Over the last three years, child marriage cases plummeted by an impressive 55% for girls and a staggering 88% for boys in the state. This remarkable progress, highlighted in the “Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India” report by Just Rights for Children (JRC), is attributed to effective awareness campaigns, robust legal measures, and grassroots community efforts that foster trust in reporting systems.
Steepest Declines Recorded
While Karnataka’s numbers are outstanding, the national picture also shows a positive trend: child marriages decreased by 69% among girls and 72% among boys across India. Assam witnessed the most dramatic reduction for girls at 84%, closely followed by Maharashtra and Bihar (both 70%), and Rajasthan (66%). This comprehensive study, conducted by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change for Children (C-LAB), surveyed 757 villages across five different states.
Karnataka’s Innovative Approach
What sets Karnataka apart is its unique strategy. Unlike many other states, it primarily relied on helplines (75%) and Child Welfare Committees (53%) for reporting cases, rather than predominantly on police stations (40%). This emphasis on community-based systems has proven crucial, demonstrating a strong link between public trust and effective action against child marriage. A pivotal moment was the state government’s decision to empower Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) to register marriages. These accessible local officials successfully raised awareness and prevented nearly 2,000 child marriages in 2021 alone. Furthermore, Karnataka made history by being the first state to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, making even engagement involving minors a punishable offense.
The Power of Awareness and Deterrence
The power of information and legal consequences cannot be overstated. A significant 92% of respondents identified awareness campaigns as the most effective tool to eradicate child marriage, with prosecutions through FIRs and arrests also playing a vital role, cited by 50%. The Union government’s “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” campaign has reached nearly 99% of respondents, primarily through NGOs, schools, and gram panchayats. In Karnataka, all respondents confirmed taking a pledge against child marriage, with 78% acknowledging NGOs as key facilitators in this initiative.
Persistent Challenges
Despite these commendable achievements, the battle is far from over. Significant hurdles persist, particularly the pervasive fear of social stigma (79%) and a lack of awareness (62%), which continue to deter individuals from reporting cases. For instance, while the 2011 Census recorded a staggering 4.8 lakh children married before the legal age in Karnataka, a mere 783 cases were officially reported between 2019 and 2022, highlighting a critical gap between prevalence and reporting. Ravi Kant, National Convener of JRC, emphasized, “By criminalizing even child marriage engagements, the Karnataka government has significantly strengthened its child protection framework. Such firm actions are essential to dismantle this deeply rooted, centuries-old crime.”
Key Recommendations for Future Progress
To build on this progress, the report offers several crucial recommendations. These include rigorous enforcement of existing laws, making marriage registration compulsory, and expanding the reach of the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” portal. Additionally, it advocates for the establishment of a National Day Against Child Marriage, aimed at galvanizing nationwide support to achieve a child marriage-free India by 2030.