In India, child marriage is still a problem despite laws that forbid it. One of the most extreme cases of child marriage was reported in Uttar Pradesh in 2016, when a four-year-old girl was married to a 10-year-old boy.
The girl, who was identified only as “S,” was from a village in the state of Uttar Pradesh. Her parents were reportedly very poor and had no other option but to marry her off. The groom, who was identified only as “R,” was also from a poor family.
The wedding ceremony was conducted in a traditional manner, with the girl dressed in a red sari and the boy in a dhoti. The marriage was conducted by a local priest, who also blessed the couple.
The incident sparked outrage among activists and the public, who called for the government to take action against the parents and the priest who conducted the ceremony. The local police launched an investigation and the parents were arrested and charged with child marriage.
The case highlighted the need for stricter laws to prevent child marriage in India. In 2017, the government amended the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, to make the minimum age of marriage 18 for both boys and girls.
The case of the four-year-old bride from Uttar Pradesh is a stark reminder of the need to end child marriage in India. The government must take all necessary steps to ensure that no child is forced into marriage before the legal age.
