Bring out the reasons and consequences of the spurt in child marriages in recent years. What steps can be taken beyond the legal realms to tackle the menace?

(i) Pandemic : led to economic downfale of people, thus using child marriges to gain dowry. -> (y) Lockdown allowed secrecy of environment

(ii) Social sanctions: approved and enjoyed despite legal recognition. (eg) Mass marriages on Akshaya Tritiya in Rajasthan.

(iii) Girl child seen as a [burden] due to poor safety in society -> linked to honour of family (iv) Inability of state/administration to check their proliferation (Marriage VOIDABLE) (v) Low level of awareness about the laws and its penalties.

Consequences of child marriage: (i) Withdrawal from the education and break on learning. (ii) Impact on health of children: -> Mental health affected -> High rate of MMR - India at 113 (2018) due to early pregnancies. (iii) Poor Female labour force participation at 24% (Economic survey) (iv) Pressure on population, due to longer reproductive phase of girl.

Measures to be taken Other than legal (i) Behavioral change among people via Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. (ii) Best practices: Informer (Khabri) scheme of Rajasthan government. (iii) Boost Nari Shakti through gender budgeting. (iv) Technology to augment role of the administration to monitor such marriages. (v) Incentivization for delayed marriages (eg) Sukanya Samriddhi Scheme.