Karnataka reports highest number of child marriages

21% of country’s child marriages took place in Karnataka in 2022, with 215 alarming cases

Karnataka may appear as the most progressive state, but it is creating an alarming record in reporting the highest number of child marriages. According to the latest data from Lok Sabha, in 2018, Karnataka recorded the second-highest number of child marriages in India with 73 cases, following Assam, which reported 88 cases. Moving to 2019, Karnataka again held the second position with 111 cases, behind Assam’s 115. However, in 2020, Karnataka surpassed all other states, including Assam, by reporting 184 child marriages, an increase of approximately 65.8% from the previous year. In 2021, Karnataka maintained its lead with 273 cases, significantly ahead of the second-highest, West Bengal, which had 105 cases.

Although Karnataka saw a slight decrease in 2022, with 215 child marriages, it remained the leading state, while Assam recorded 163 cases. In 2022, Karnataka’s 215 child marriages constituted approximately 21.4% of the total 1002 child marriages reported across India.

Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, stated that the government enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) to combat child marriages and enforce penalties against those involved in such practices. Under Section 16 of the PCMA, state governments are authorised to appoint Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) who are responsible for specific areas to monitor and prevent child marriages. These officers are tasked with advising and counselling local residents against participating in or facilitating child marriages, raising awareness about the detrimental effects of child marriages, and sensitising communities on this issue. CMPOs operate under the guidance of the state governments or union territories.

In addition to the efforts of the states, the central government actively promotes awareness through media campaigns, outreach programmes, and advisories to highlight the harmful effects of child marriages. The Ministry has urged all states and union territories to increase the number of CMPOs. The Ministry of Women and Child Development also runs the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme under the ‘Mission Shakti’ initiative, which emphasises gender equality and discourages child marriages. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) conducts awareness programmes and stakeholder consultations on this issue. Furthermore, the government of India has established CHILDLINE, a 24/7 emergency telephone service (short code 1098), to assist children in crisis, including interventions to prevent child marriages, in coordination with police, CMPOs, and District Child Protection Units.

Cash incentive for gram panchayats in Karnataka to eradicate child marriage
Reacting to this, the state government has introduced a cash incentive scheme. Gram panchayats that successfully reduce child marriage cases to zero will be awarded Rs 50,000 as a cash reward. To tackle it at the grassroots level, the Department of Women and Child Development, in collaboration with the Health, Education, Panchayat Raj, and Rural Development departments, will work jointly to enforce preventive measures. For this purpose, the state has deputed 59,000 officials as child marriage prohibition officers from various departments to aid in this mission.

Decline in child marriages
An official said, “This year alone, 1,093 complaints of child marriage were received, out of which 917 weddings were prevented. However, 112 marriages took place, and FIRs were filed in 160 cases. In the second quarter from July to September, 531 complaints were registered; of these, 363 weddings were stopped, while 150 child marriages were conducted, leading to 135 FIRs.” To further reduce child marriage cases, the state has initiated several innovative programmes in partnership with seven key departments. The cash incentive scheme will be effective from this year, announced Laxmi Hebbalkar, Minister for the Department of Women and Child Development.

Chitradurga districtrecorded the highest number of child marriages, with 49 of 102 complaints proceeding to marriage, hence struggling to curb it ­–Official

In Bengaluru East and West, intervention prevented all reported marriages, making these districts models for others. “Over six months (April to September), Karnataka recorded 1,624 complaints of child marriage, preventing 1,280 weddings while 331 took place, with complaints lodged against 295 cases. In Bidar, all 29 reported cases were stopped on time, making it one of the districts with zero child marriages. However, Chitradurga recorded the highest number of child marriages, with 49 of 102 complaints proceeding to marriage. Shivamogga and Mysuru followed, with 46 and 36 marriages occurring, respectively. These districts continue to face challenges in curbing child marriage,” the official added.