With early marriage comes early parenting as well. It is no surprise that 9 out of every 100 brides are barely 12 when married and 15 when they turn mothers, mostly within a year of tying the nuptial knot.
Almost 50% brides below 18 years
Another survey by a non-government organisation in collaboration with UP health department, conducted about a year ago, states that an average of 45.6 per cent brides in India are married before they attain the permissible legal age of marriage that is 18 years. In 1990s, the figures stood at 54.2 per cent. Besides, a recent UNICEF report states that over 40% of child marriages in the world take place in India.
Contrary to the general perception that such issues are prevalent in rural parts of the region, 7.9 per cent of `Balika Vadhus' are from urban backgrounds and 4.3 per cent of them are High School pass.
The survey results
The survey suggests that in Jammu & Kashmir women are getting married at an average age of 23.3 years. The corresponding figure for Kerala is 22.8 and 22.2 for Punjab. Delhi and Himachal Pradesh are at 22.1 each. In Maharashtra the average age is 20.9 years, while in Karnataka and Gujarat, the figures stand at 20.3 and 21 years, respectively.
"But the situation is improving and for the good," said Dr Namita Gupta, a gynaecologist. "This, if the figures available are true," she hastened to add, while talking to TOI. Her belief stems from the fact that from the top seven states, where maximum number of marriages are held before the girl is 18-year old, as per the 2001 census, six of them have already achieved an average differential of at least 1 year in the age of girl at the time of marriage.
While women activists prefer to believe the changes are a result of sustained campaigns for women empowerment, the masses are skeptical of not only their claims but the authenticity of the database as well. "Let us wait for the results of the latest census. I am sure we will have a lot more to worry about than what we have presently," says Dr Nuzhat Farooqi. Presently, based in Middle East, where she works at a maternity clinic, Dr Nuzhat insisted that more often than not the figures provided by the NGOs are used by the government as it suits them. "The ground realities are extremely different then what the case studies reflect," she said, basing her contention on first-hand experience over the years when she was practising in UP till 2000.
