Report projects end of child marriage by 2030, critics remain cautious

By A Representative 

Child marriage in India has recorded a steep decline, according to a report released by Just Rights for Children (JRC), a network of over 250 NGOs working in the field of child protection. The report, Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India, presented during a side event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, claims that child marriages among girls have declined by 69 percent and among boys by 72 percent over the past three years.

The report credits arrests and registration of cases as the strongest deterrents against child marriage. It identifies Assam as leading the decline with 84 percent, followed by Maharashtra and Bihar at 70 percent each, Rajasthan at 66 percent, and Karnataka at 55 percent. According to the report, widespread awareness of the Government of India’s Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign has contributed significantly, with 99 percent of respondents indicating familiarity with the initiative through NGOs, schools, or village councils.

Prepared by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change for Children (C-LAB), an initiative of JRC Partner India Child Protection, the study is based on field data collected from 757 villages across five states, using multistage stratified random sampling. Local service providers such as ASHA and Anganwadi workers, teachers, nurses, and panchayat members were engaged in gathering the information. Recognising Assam’s performance, JRC announced a ‘Champions of Change’ Award for Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

However, child rights activists and researchers have expressed caution about such dramatic claims. Critics note that child marriage is chronically under-reported in India, as families often conceal ages or conduct ceremonies privately to avoid legal scrutiny. UNICEF specialists have also acknowledged widespread under-reporting, warning that official figures may not reflect ground realities. Some states and union territories continue to report very low or zero cases, which the Supreme Court has described as questionable, suggesting gaps in awareness and enforcement rather than actual elimination of the practice.

Others point out that while states such as Assam, Maharashtra and Bihar show steep declines, progress is uneven across the country. Regions such as parts of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Rajasthan and tribal belts continue to witness high prevalence, often linked to poverty, entrenched traditions and weak local enforcement. Activists have further warned that the COVID-19 pandemic, economic distress and school closures may have led to an increase in child marriages in certain districts, even as broader averages show a decline.

The JRC report highlights progress in awareness and reporting, noting that 63 percent of respondents feel “very comfortable” reporting child marriage to authorities and another 33 percent “somewhat comfortable.” Yet, critics argue that reporting does not always translate into prosecution or convictions, with enforcement mechanisms often lagging behind.

The report also points to improvements in girls’ education but acknowledges persistent barriers: poverty, lack of infrastructure, safety concerns, and transport limitations. In surveyed villages, only 31 percent reported full school attendance for girls aged 6–18 years, with large disparities between states. Reasons cited for child marriage include poverty (91 percent), perceived safety of girls (44 percent), and adherence to social norms.

Recommendations in the report include stricter enforcement of child marriage laws, compulsory marriage registration, improved reporting mechanisms, and a national day against child marriage. JRC projects the elimination of child marriage in India by 2030, describing the country’s experience as a possible global model.

Still, independent observers caution that while progress has been made, the scale of decline claimed in the report requires closer scrutiny, particularly given India’s vast regional disparities, socio-economic pressures, and the continuing influence of traditional practices.