Aayushi BansalAIR 7 · CSE 2024 · 181 wordsTheir whole copy
Opening · a date or context
Recently, the government has proposed to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 years to 21 years, same as that of men.
Body · continuous prose
Supporters argue that this will lead to better health, education and labour force participation outcomes for women.
Patriarchy in India which values women's virginity has given rise to early marriages. Further Hinduism which considers marriage as a sacrament and Grihastha Ashram as life journey makes marriage mandatory.
Islam's personal law of Shariat allows women getting married as soon as she attains puberty even before 18 years of age. Hence law is to be used as vehicle of social change.
However, critics argue that this will disproportionately burden lower caste and tribal women. Stuck with poverty, parents marry girl child earlier and now those marriages would either go underground or be declared illegal.
Further efficacy of law without corresponding health, nutrition and education interventions is questioned. NFHS (2019-21) tells that even now ~24% marriages happen before 18 years despite law being there.
Close · a way forward
India must go for simultaneous use of law, awareness and education for true social transformation.