“Women’s age of marriage was increased from 15 to 18 years in 1978, by amending the erstwhile Sharda Act of 1929. As India progresses further, opportunities open up for women to pursue higher education and careers”- This is what Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said in the Union budget for 2020-21. In a bid to present more opportunities to women of the nation and mark a revolutionary decision to ensure their better stature in society, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday (December 15) stepped in with the decision to increase the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21 years. Interestingly, the decision has brought the age of marriage for both men and women at par.
While the law essentially prevents the abuse of minors and outlaws child marriages, the increase in legal age for marriage of women will have long term effects on their psychological, physical, and educational factors.
Laws to ensure better physiological health:
Marriages in India are considered to be a process to give birth to a baby to gladden the relatives and in-laws. One of the parameters that define an ideal daughter-in-law is to get pregnant as early as possible. Thus, a woman married at the age of 18, faces an unbearable pressure to conceive despite knowing its repercussions. According to WHO reports, adolescent mothers (ages 10–19 years) face higher risks of maternal health problems, disability and death, reinforcing risking problems for their newborns as compared to women aged 20 to 24 years.
Though there has been a steady decline in India’s adolescent fertility rate, it still happens to be a severe problem in the country. Teenage pregnancy is almost double in rural areas, 9.2%, as compared to urban, 5%, in India.
Thus, the Union Cabinet’s decision to raise the legal age of women will ensure better health of women in India as they will not have to suffer the pain and complications caused due to adolescent pregnancies.
A better psychological cycle:
The negative impacts of early marriage on women do not end with physiological factors. It has more to do with psychological factors that can worsen the condition of women even more. It is a well-known fact that early marriages of women are the results of religious beliefs, norms, and social impacts. But the immaturity and the lack of ability to deal with responsibilities at adolescence reflect badly on the mental health of a woman who is forced to run a family after getting married.
Psychological impacts on a woman married at an early age:
- Emotional immaturity
- They are likely to develop clinical disorders such as depression, anxiety, Post-partum Depression, in cases of domestic violence, miscarriage, etc.
- Failure to meet up the expectations of the elders leads to various types of psychological issues.
- Incomplete goals and dreams in life might lead to a clash and conflicts within the family further leading to low self-esteem and decreased confidence.
Dr Rachna Khanna Singh, mental wellness, lifestyle, and relationship expert, had also informed, “Girls who get married too young who have had very minimal exposure face a real hard time settling down. This is because their maturity levels are not high enough, which is from the mental health perspective. From the physical health perspective, their reproductive organs are also not mature enough. Having said that, one should wait at least until the early 20s to have a child or expand your family.”
Now, with the age limit increased to get married, women will not have to face psychological problems.
New laws to help women attain higher educational qualifications:
A girl getting married is often expected to end her formal education and dreams of having a successful career as well. She, as per society norms, is expected to deal with the responsibility of home, children, and extended family. Thus, it becomes almost impossible for a married girl to pursue her education and build a career for herself in most of the cases that end up making her dependent on her husband and in-laws for everything.
Now, with the law improved, a girl can attain education by the age of 21 that can boost her confidence. Ultimately, with the educational background and confident approach, women can become independent and lead a happy and prosperous life altogether.
This is the Modi Government for you defining the true meaning of women empowerment.
Indians think all they need is more laws to solve their problems.
This change will also help in delaying the process of baby-makimg and thereby slowing down the population growth rate.
But this law should be applicable to muslims also. Otherwise only Hindu population growth will slow down and further impact demography imbalance.
I was carefully thinking about what would be the reasons behind passing this law now and now you perfectly summed up one of the best benefit (delaying population growth) and that’s the very reason the Muslim party Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi extremely vocal and opposing this law.
Now I know why minority people are opposing this law.
Moronic feminist scum should know that min marriage age in all developed countries (US/Japan) is at 18 years.
So you are a slave to the customs of the white man good going guy shows u love slavery.
Even though some developed countries have 18 years as the legal age, there are majority of the early married people going through hardships due to unable to tackle the family situations that happens in a married life and that’s the very reason in USA, the percentage of early marriage is extremely low and in fact many of them don’t even think of getting married until late twenties or early thirties of the age.
Now when it comes to poor or developing nations like India, raising the marriage age definitely helps young women from facing all the problems associated with early marriage and one of the best benefit is delaying population growth in a overly populated country like India.
When you have so many benefits in raising the marriage age, tell us why are you opposing and what are your arguments or benefits in opposing this law? If you survey young women of India, I am sure 80% of them will happily support this law and that itself is enough reason to go with this law and few opposers can continue to oppose it and that won’t bother many.
The question should be examined from the boys angle also. In India it is normal that there is a gap pf about 3 to 6 yeara in the age of husband and wife. If a boy wants to marry at a age of 21 or 22 he will have to marrya girl if his own age. Or else he will have to wait for atleasst two three years more.
How old is old enough… for marriage… 13 .. 15.. 18.. 21… 31.. 41… can ANYONE SAY FOR SURE….
Why is marriage required at all… you want a kid but not sure if you can handle it.. go to a clinic.. get yourself impregnated.. and voila you are a mother of .. who cares.. right .. ?? .. now take care of it… don’t like it.. give it up for adoption .. you are part of ME FIRST GENERATION AFTER ALL…
In other words… this “whole world” of marriage, childbirth, kids, women/men views are full of different and even opposing views ..
One thing is clear.. no one law… is a “best fit for all” the 600+ million girls/women of Bharat… till we achieve the “Nirvana on Mother/Fatherhood” whatever is done will be second/next best to the solution provided by a Buddha like Nirvana…