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Karnataka has recorded one of the sharpest declines in child marriages in the country, with cases falling by 55% among girls and 88% among boys over the past three years, according to a new study. The report, “Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India”, was released by Just Rights for Children (JRC), a network of over 250 NGOs. It attributes the fall to awareness campaigns, stronger legal deterrence, and community-level interventions that created trust in reporting mechanisms. Steepest in Assam At the national level, child marriages dropped by 69% among girls and 72% among boys. Assam registered the steepest fall among girls at 84%, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar (70% each), and Rajasthan (66%). The study, covering 757 villages across five States, was prepared by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change for Children (C-LAB), an initiative of JRC partner India Child Protection. Karnataka’s approach Unlike most other States, Karnataka relied more on helplines (75%) and Child Welfare Committees (53%) than police stations (40%) for reporting cases. This shift, the report noted, shows a “critical link between trust in community-based systems and action against child marriage.” The State government’s move to empower Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs) to register marriages was described as a “turning point.” Being accessible to villagers, PDOs built awareness and prevented nearly 2,000 child marriages in 2021 alone. Karnataka also became the first State to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, making even engagements involving minors a punishable offence, the study noted. Awareness and deterrents Awareness campaigns were identified by 92% of respondents as the most effective tool to end child marriage, followed by prosecutions through FIRs and arrests (50%). Nearly 99% of respondents said they had heard of the Union government’s Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign, mostly through NGOs, schools, and gram panchayats. In Karnataka, all respondents reported taking a pledge against child marriage, while 78% identified NGOs as lead facilitators. Challenges remain However, despite these gains, challenges remain. Fear of social stigma (79%) and lack of awareness (62%) continue to prevent people from reporting cases. While Census 2011 recorded 4.8 lakh children married before the legal age in Karnataka, only 783 cases were reported between 2019 and 2022. Ravi Kant, National Convener of JRC, said, “By declaring even engagements in child marriage cases a punishable offence, the Karnataka government has fortified the child protection ecosystem. Such strict measures are vital to dismantle this centuries-old crime.” Key recommendations The report recommends stricter enforcement of the law, compulsory marriage registration, and wider dissemination of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat portal. It also urges designating a National Day Against Child Marriage to mobilise support for a child marriage-free India by 2030.
