Child marriage is an understood phenomenon but the effects of it on young girls and their lives are relatively unknown to the public and policy makers. Asked why she had decided to fight child marriage, she said: “My mind and body were not ready for it.” India has the fifth highest prevalence of child marriages in the world, with one in every three child brides being Indian. This treatment of young girls is viewed as separate from human trafficking but in reality, it is a form of trafficking. Read: Child marriage: Where cure is just as important as preventionThe anomaly arises when the child is under 18 but over 15. Moreover, provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, show that a child who has been forced into marriage and in all probability would be subjected to intercourse, only has the option of rescuing herself from the illegal relationship if she applies to the district court through her guardian or next friend, along with a Child Marriage Prohibition Officer.

Source: Hindustan Times January 09, 2017 13:31 UTC