THE INCREDIBLE JHARKHAND: THIRD HIGHEST IN CHILD MARRIAGES

One of the largest societal ills today is child marriage, and Jharkhand doesn't appear to be doing enough to end the crisis. Even though boys and girls must be at least 21 and 18 years old to get married in India, child weddings are nevertheless rather popular here.  

A poll was carried out in 2020, and the results were released late in the previous month. Only two states in the nation—Jharkhand and West Bengal—have more than 50% of their female residents get married before turning 21. According to the poll, although 54.9% of girls in West Bengal get married before turning 21 years old, 54.6% of females in Jharkhand do so, compared to a national average of 29.5%.

These results were not so discrete from the surveys conducted previously. According to the 2017 study “More than Brides Alliance: A Baseline” by non-profits Population Council, Save The Children, and Oxfam, the percentage of married girls aged 15 to 19 ranged from 13% to 49% across four states: Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, and Rajasthan. India has the highest percentage of child marriages in the world in 2014, at one-third.

After such appalling results, the state took charge to remedy the situation. The State Action Plan (SAP), which was introduced by Chief Minister Raghubar Das in November 2018, was developed in Jharkhand with significant assistance from UNICEF. The strategy calls for educating and providing access to programmes and schemes for young boys and girls. It also entails improving capabilities and mechanisms for kid safety. 

According to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, Block Level Officers (BLOs) in Jharkhand have been designated as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) (PCMA). Preventing child marriages and gathering evidence to prosecute those who violate the Act are among the responsibilities of the CMPO.