The ascendency of India as an economic world power

It gives me immense pleasure to note that Indian government is becoming tough about child marriage. This is a major problem in rural parts of India. The irony is that according to Indian law, a man cannot get married before he becomes 21 years old. On the other hand, for women, this is 18 years.

Reuters reported:

India tightened laws against child marriage on Tuesday, with priests, police or local leaders facing jail and fines if they permit the widespread but illegal practice.

Renuka Chowdhury, minister for women and children, said the Prohibition of Child Marriage Bill 2006 passed on Tuesday gives protection to tens of thousands of children forced into marriage every year.

"When we tell our children that they cannot vote when they are 15 years of age, we do not allow them to drive or to drink, then how is it that we think that they are capable of getting married?," Chowdhury asked the Lok Sabha.

"I refuse to accept that any child can give his or her consent. They are children, they are coerced, bullied, black-mailed, emotionally exploited."

Child rights activists say the average age of marriage has been rising slowly over the last two decades, but government studies show 65 percent of girls are married before 18.

I am happy that the Indian government has passed this legislation. However, I would like to see that government officials try to enact this legislation sincerely. The media can play a big role in this regard. Under the new law, those men who marry children would have to pay a fine and go to jail. Even the priests who would conduct the marriage (with a child) would have to suffer punishment too.