By Satyabrat Borah
In a small village nestled among the fields of rural India, a fifteen-year-old girl named Priya adjusts the heavy dupatta over her head, her hands trembling slightly as she prepares for a wedding that no one asked if she wanted. Her childhood, filled with games under the banyan tree and dreams of becoming a doctor, is slipping away at this moment, replaced by the expectations of a life she is too young to fully understand. Priya’s experience is shared by countless others across the country, where child marriage persists as a deeply entrenched social issue, even as India makes strides toward modernity and equality. This age-old practice, driven by poverty, tradition, and gender biases, continues to cast a long shadow over the lives of young girls, undermining their health, education, and chances to escape poverty.
The roots of child marriage in India run deep, woven into cultural fabrics that have endured for generations. In many communities, especially in rural areas, families see early marriage as a way to safeguard a daughter’s honor or alleviate economic strain. With limited resources, parents might believe that marrying off a girl reduces household expenses or secures alliances through dowry. Gender norms play a huge role too; girls are often viewed as burdens rather than assets, their value tied to early motherhood rather than personal achievement. Where schools are scarce or too expensive, education takes a back seat, making marriage seem like the only viable path. Fears of elopement or scandal in conservative settings further push families toward hasty arrangements, ignoring the fact that these unions often bring more harm than protection.
The impacts are heartbreaking and multifaceted, starting with health. Girls married young are physically unprepared for marriage and motherhood, facing grave risks during pregnancy and childbirth. Complications like obstetric fistula, severe bleeding, and infections are far more common among adolescents, contributing to India’s stubbornly high maternal mortality rates in some regions. Their infants suffer too, with higher chances of low birth weight and developmental issues. Beyond the physical, the emotional toll is immense; many child brides endure isolation, anxiety, and depression, cut off from friends and trapped in relationships with much older partners where power dynamics leave them voiceless and vulnerable to abuse.
Education bears a heavy blow as well. The moment a girl marries, school usually ends for good. Books are swapped for household chores, and ambitions fade into the daily grind. This dropout cycle perpetuates illiteracy across generations, as mothers without education struggle to advocate for their own children’s schooling. On the economic front, child marriage locks families into poverty. Young brides have little opportunity to learn skills or earn income, remaining dependent and unable to contribute fully to household prosperity. Larger families from early births strain limited resources, slowing progress out of deprivation. In a nation pushing for development, this drains potential; empowered women drive growth, but child marriage keeps half the population sidelined.
Despite these grim realities, there is real cause for optimism. India has witnessed a steep decline in child marriages over recent years. Data from the latest National Family Health Survey shows the proportion of women aged 20-24 who married before 18 falling from nearly half in the mid-2000s to about 23 percent by the early 2020s, with further improvements reported into 2025. This shift comes from dedicated laws, government programs, and grassroots activism. The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act of 2006 sets a clear legal boundary, criminalizing the practice and offering mechanisms for intervention and annulment. Enforcement has ramped up, with authorities preventing thousands of ceremonies each year through tip-offs and raids.
Government efforts have been instrumental. Campaigns like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao celebrate girls and promote their education, while conditional cash transfers reward families for keeping daughters in school and delaying marriage. In 2025, initiatives such as the intensified Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat drive have mobilized entire communities, from schools to religious leaders, in pledges to eradicate the practice. States like Assam have reported over 80 percent drops in cases through vigilant policing and public deterrence, setting examples for others.
Organizations on the ground deserve immense credit too. NGOs like Child Rights and You, along with broad alliances, work directly with families, offering counseling, legal aid, and alternatives like vocational training. They run awareness drives with street plays, posters, and media spots that highlight the benefits of educated daughters: healthier families, stronger economies, and prouder communities. Increasingly, girls themselves lead the charge, forming peer groups to support one another and challenge outdated norms.
Picture a vibrant classroom in an Indian village, where girls in uniform lean over desks, giggling as they solve problems together, their faces lit with curiosity and confidence. This scene, once rare, is becoming more common as education emerges as the strongest weapon against child marriage. Girls who stay in school longer marry later, bear fewer and healthier children, and lift their families out of poverty. Successes in places like Rajasthan and Bihar demonstrate what’s possible with targeted investments in schools, scholarships, and community engagement. Villages proudly declaring themselves child-marriage-free are on the rise, a testament to collective will.
Progress isn’t uniform, though. Pockets of high prevalence linger in states with deeper poverty and weaker infrastructure, where economic pressures and cultural inertia hold firm. The pandemic set back some gains by closing schools and heightening family stresses. Yet, India’s pledge under global goals to eliminate child marriage by 2030 fuels ongoing commitment.
Bold posters in villages declare the message clearly: education over early marriage, rights over customs. Stories of women who waited, studied, and succeeded inspire the next generation. To finish the job, India needs continued focus on accessible schooling, financial safety nets for the poorest, strict enforcement, and patient conversations to reshape attitudes.
Ending child marriage isn’t just about protecting girls; it’s about unleashing India’s true strength. Each girl allowed to grow fully becomes a force for better health, reduced poverty, and shared prosperity. For every Priya whose story ends differently, with books in hand and choices ahead, the nation moves closer to the equitable future it deserves. With persistence from governments, communities, and individuals, that day feels within reach.
