Child Marriage

At an age where a child’s only concern should be playing and gaining education, young girls are married off before they are mentally, physically and psychologically prepared for the responsibilities that a marriage brings. While the legal marriageable age limit for boys and girls in India are 21 years and 18 years respectively, there are many parts of the country where early marriages still take place.

At ShaadiCares, we believe that every child deserves the right to health, education and a chance at a normal childhood.

Almost half of all child brides worldwide live in India

Percentage distribution of women aged 18 years and older who were married before age 18, by region

In India, 27% women aged 20 - 49 years were married before age 15
Girls with no education are 5.5 times more likely to marry early as those with at least 10 years of education
Girls who marry before 18 are more likely to be victims of Domestic Violence
Pregnancy and Childbirth are the #1 Killers of girls

Main factors responsible for Child Marriage

Source

Improving Children’s Lives, Transforming the Future 25 years of Child Rights in South Asia - UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund, Ending Child Marriage: Progress and Prospects UNICEF, New York,2014