Child Marriage in Rajasthan.

The illegal practice of child marriage is rampant in Rajasthan. Many villagers do not support it but are scared to raise their voice against it by the fear of becoming an outcaste or facing life threatening consequences. Child marriage in Rajasthan and many rural parts of India is a very old and common practice, in many cases the brides and grooms are as young as three and six years respectively. Many villages perform these illegal marriages at government schools or hospitals. The police authorities actively stop these illegal marriages if they have prior information, but many a times they cannot take actions due to lack of evidence or witness.


Many minor newly married couples are also brought to temples in Ajmer on the festival of Akha Teej. In cases of influential families the officials wash their hands off, saying that the kids come from adjoining areas that lie outside their jurisdiction. The state government issued strict instructions to the district administration to check child marriages on and around Akha Teej, but many a times they do not have information about these marriages.

In several villages of Rajasthan half of the girls are still married off before they turn ten, while child marriage continues to be a harsh reality for other young girls in other rural parts of the country.

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