SATISH HANDA
Controversy has started after decision was taken in recent Lok Sabha session to increase minimum age of marriage of a female from 18 at present to 21 and the proposal was forwarded to higher committee for final review. However, the decision was welcomed by large number of social welfare organizations saying the decision is likely to enhance women empowerment, bring maturity in them at the time of their marriage, increase literacy among females and create more sources of employment for them and provide more and more sources to stand on their own feet prior or after the marriage.
Whereas, on the other hand most of ‘Khap Panchayats’ in Haryana state as well as some of tribal and Muslim communities in the country opposed the proposal in Lok Sabha session to increase minimum age for the marriage of a female from 18 to 21 demanding that parents should be permitted to take decision as regard marriage of their daughter raising a question when a youth of age 18 in any sex is liable to fight election for Prime Minister in the country, is in a position to live in relationship with a female or female, may have sexual relationship with opposite sex under Pocksey Act how a female of age 18 deprives of the tights to marry, which is likely not only to disturb social rituals as well as increase cases of live-in relationship among youths and prove harmful for society.
The Financal World had a survey in this regard in Haryana state when 84,2% people in the state were in favour of the decision to increase marriage age of a female from 18 to 21 years, 15.4% people opposed the same and only 2.7% people refused to comment on this issue. Nearly 80% grand parents in Haryana state too were seen in favour of marriage of a female at the age 21. When contacted Chairperson of Child & Women Human Rights Corporation in the state Jyoti Bendra she was in favour of government’s decision that the right age of marriage of a female was 21, because child marriage or marriage in early age is often extremely harmful for the health as well as career of a female.
