Increasing the Marriage Age in India and Benefits

Increasing the Marriage Age in India:

A proposal to raise the legal marriage age for women from 18 to 21 years was approved by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday, December 14, 2021. As soon as the law is implemented, both men and women will have an equal age of marriage. What the proposal is and why it's so important are outlined here. Jaya Jaitly, from Niti Aayog, is heading the task force that was formed in June 2020. This task force includes pediatrician VK Paul, as well as the secretaries of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, the Department of Women and Child Development, the Department of Higher Education and Instruction, and the Ministry of Justice and Law.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Jaitly emphasized, "I want to make it very clear that the recommendation is not based on population control." Statistics from NFHS 5 (National Family Health Survey) show that fertility rates are decreasing and that the population is heading toward stabilization. This recommendation is intended to empower women." The government proposes to amend the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, the Special Marriage Act, and the Hindu Marriage Act in order to implement the proposal.

The advancement of India will open up more and more opportunities for women to further their education and careers. It is imperative to lower maternal mortality, infant mortality, and improve nutrition levels in addition to increasing the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB). Such are the major arguments for this proposed legislation. In addition, women will attain psychological maturity before marriage, exercise better reproductive rights, and develop better knowledge of life skills, such as family planning, contraception, and so on.

Here are some Benefits of the Increasing the Marriage Age in India –

Ensuring Better Physiological Health For Women:

WHO reports identify adolescent mothers as having a higher risk for maternal health problems, disabilities, and death, which may have a detrimental effect on their newborns. However, women between the ages of 20 and 24 are at a lower risk for these issues. India's adolescent fertility rate has declined steadily over the years, but it remains a severe problem. The proportion of teenage pregnancies in rural areas of India is almost double, 9.2%, as compared to 5% in urban areas.

As a result, the Union Cabinet's decision to increase the legal age of women will contribute to better health in India, as women will no longer have to undergo the pain and complications associated with pregnancies during their teenage years.

The Psychological Cycle of Women will Also be Improved:

Early marriage has a number of negative impacts on women that go far beyond physiological effects. There are psychological factors that can aggravate women's circumstances even more. Religious beliefs, social norms, and cultural influences contribute to the early marriage of women. As a result, a woman who is forced to take care of a family after getting married will suffer from immaturity and the inability to handle the responsibilities of adolescence.

A woman who married at a young age is likely to experience the following psychological effects:

  • Become emotionally immature
  • In cases of domestic violence, miscarriage, and other types of trauma, they may develop clinical disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and Post-partum Depression.
  • Various types of psychological issues occur as a result of failing to meet the expectations of your elders.
  • An incomplete set of goals and dreams may result in conflict and conflict within a family, which decreases self-esteem and confidence in the family.

The mental wellness, lifestyle, and relationship expert, Dr. Rachna Khanna Singh, has also stated that young girls who get married before they have had a lot of exposure to society often face difficulties settling down. In mental health terms, this is because of their low maturity levels. They also do not have mature reproductive organs, from a physical health perspective. In spite of this, one should wait until their early 20s at the latest before having children or expanding their families.” Women won't have to deal with psychological problems anymore since the marriage age is increasing.

This New Legislation to Encourage Women to Gain Higher Education Qualifications:

Whenever a girl gets married in her teenage age, her formal education and dreams of a lucrative career are often dashed. According to societal norms, she is obliged to take care of the responsibilities of the household, her children, and her extended family. As such, pursuing education and building a career for herself becomes almost impossible for a married girl in most cases, thus making her dependent on her husband and in-laws for everything.

Due to the law change, girls now have the ability to attain education by 21 years old that can significantly boost their self-esteem. Education and a confident approach to life will enable women to eventually become independent, live a happy and prosperous life.


Increasing the Marriage Age in India   Benefits of Increasing Marriage   Marriage Age   Marriage age in India  


Comments

0 Comments

Leave a comment

Search