Task Force to Eradicate Child Marriage

• 13 Mar 2025

Why in News? 

The Bihar government is going to constitute a state level 'task force' under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to prevent and eliminate child marriage in the state . 

Key Points  

• Objectives and functions of the Task Force: 
  • To effectively guide the police and other agencies in preventing child marriage. 
  • To ensure strict disposal of cases related to Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA). 
  • Enhancing coordination between Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPO) and Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU). 
  • Appointment of Child Marriage Protection Officers at every district and sub-division level. 
• Status of child marriage in the state: 
  • According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, Bihar ranks second after West Bengal in terms of rate of child marriage in the country . 
  • According to the report, 40.8 % of women in the state are married before the age of 18.  
• Other efforts to eradicate child marriage: 
  • Interactive meetings with girl students in schools under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign . 
  • Cash reward of up to Rs 5000 for providing verified information under Informer Incentive Scheme . 
  • Organizing awareness camps in rural areas to inform the community about the ill effects of child marriage. 

Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Campaign 

• It was launched in January 2015 with the aim to address sex selective abortion and the declining child sex ratio which was at 918 girls for every 1,000 boys in 2011. 
• This is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and Ministry of Human Resource Development. 
• The programme is being implemented across 405 districts in the country. 

 Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 

• About:  
  • Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 It is an act of the Government of India, which has been implemented to prevent child marriage in the society. 
• Key provisions of the Act: 
  • Under this Act, marriage of a man below 21 years of age or a woman below 18 years of age will be categorized as child marriage. 
    • Under this child marriage has been considered a punishable offence. 
  • Also, under this Act, any adult man who solemnizes a child marriage or any person solemnizing the child marriage shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term of two years, or with fine of up to one lakh rupees, or with both, but no woman shall be punished with imprisonment. 
  • The offences committed under this Act will be cognizable and non-bailable. 
  • Under this Act, there is also a provision to declare the marriage of a minor child invalid.