West Bengal's Stand Against Child Marriage

Kolkata, May 27 (PTI): In a significant move to tackle child marriage, West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja emphasized the need for educating both girls and boys about its adverse effects.

Panja, who oversees the women and child development and social welfare ministry, highlighted the importance of educating boys just as much as girls on the disadvantages of early marriage.

"It's essential to discourage boys from marrying before reaching the legal age as well," she remarked during the 'State Level Consultation on Adolescent Empowerment'. This event was attended by various government officials working collaboratively to eradicate child marriage.

The minister encouraged officials to share their experiences in addressing this issue, focusing on efforts made since the launch of the District Action Plan three years ago and the subsequent Child Marriage Reporting and Tracking Mechanism.

The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS) of 2020-21 revealed that over 41 percent of girls in the state were engaged in underage marriages.

Panja asserted that societal awareness is crucial in tackling child marriage. "Engage men and boys more in discussions about child marriage alongside girls and women," she advised after releasing the 'Guidelines for Implementation of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 in West Bengal'.

In partnership with UNICEF, the state government had devised a District Action Plan in 2022 to counter child marriage.

Panja, along with Sanghamitra Ghosh, the principal secretary of the women and child development department, and Dr. Monjur Hossain, chief of UNICEF in West Bengal, listened to the district officials discuss their achievements and challenges, as per a UNICEF press release.

The minister called for a compassionate approach from departments like health and family welfare, school education, panchayat and rural development, technical education, training, and skill development, acknowledging that today's adolescents are subjected to numerous distractions, especially from social media and mobile devices.

Panja also highlighted the role of 'Kanyashree Prakalpa' in empowering adolescent girls about online safety, besides motivating them to stay in school and delay marriage.

According to NFHS-5, Purba Medinipur recorded the highest instances of child marriage at 57 percent, followed by Purba Bardhaman at 50 percent, with Jalpaiguri reporting the lowest at 18 percent.

With UNICEF's assistance, the state launched the Child Marriage Reporting and Tracking Mechanism in 2023 to gather district-level data and provide a real-time overview of the situation, Ghosh mentioned, urging regular utilization of these resources.

Describing the consultation as "A renewed call to action", Hossain emphasized the need for a comprehensive, coordinated, and multi-sectoral approach to the overall development of adolescents.

"The involvement of key community influencers, panchayat members, self-help groups, religious leaders, teachers, students, youths, and adolescents is crucial to challenge detrimental norms and promote empowerment of both girls and boys," he added.

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