Prevalence Of Child Marriage In Salem, Dharmapuri And Namakkal Districts: Social Work Perspectives For Intervention

Abstract

Marriage Is One Of The Important Social Institutions And It Is A Means Of Establishing A Family Through Which The Society Perpetuates. This Social Process Is Expressed In The Form Of Rituals And Symbols. In India 45 Percent Of Girls Are Wedded Below 18 Years. Child Marriage Is One Of The Burning Problems Of Indian Society. In India, Despite Amended Laws Advocating 18 As The Legal Minimum Age At Marriage For Females, A Substantial Proportion I.E. Every Third Adolescent Girl In The Age Group Of 15-19 Years Is Married And Every Second Married Adolescent Girl Has Given Birth To A Child. Child Marriage Or Early Marriage Is One Of The Burning Problems And Issues In Salem, Dharmapuri And Namakkal Districts District. Whereas The Minimum Age Of Marriage For Girls Is 18 And Boys Is 21. It Is Necessary That Both The Bride And Bridegroom Must Reach That Particular Age. Article 13 Of The United Nations Convention On The Rights Of The Child (Uncrc) Clearly States That Every Child Shall Have The Right To Freedom Of Expression And Also The Right To Choice. But The Opportunity Is Not Give To The Child To Choose His/Her Life Partner. It Is Difficult To Obtain Accurate Data On The Real Extent Of Child Marriage Owing To The Fact That Most Marriages Are Not Officially Registered. The Parents’ Information Is Not Reliable.In This Regard, An Attempt Is Being Made In This Paper To Collect Qualitative Inputs From Respondents Using Case Studies, Focus Group Discussion And Problem Ranking Techniques From The Varied Sections Of The Society Residing In Salem, Dharmapuri And District. Secondary Data Is Also Being Used To Arrive At Possible Interventions From Social Work Perspective.The Detailed Interventions Put-Forth Would Be Deliberated In-Depth In The Full Paper.