Bihar Forms Task Force to Eradicate Child Marriage
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| News | Bihar government to constitute a state-level task force to eradicate child marriage. |
| Chairperson | Chief Secretary of Bihar. |
| Objectives of Task Force | - Guide police and agencies for preventing child marriage.- Ensure strict disposal of cases under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA).- Enhance coordination between Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPO) and Special Juvenile Police Unit (SJPU).- Appoint Child Marriage Protection Officers at district and sub-division levels. |
| Status of Child Marriage in Bihar | - Bihar ranks second after West Bengal in child marriage rates (NFHS-5).- 40.8% of women in Bihar are married before the age of 18. |
| Other Efforts | - Interactive meetings with girl students under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign.- Cash reward of up to Rs 5000 under Informer Incentive Scheme.- Awareness camps in rural areas to highlight ill effects of child marriage. |
| Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Campaign | - Launched in January 2015 to address declining child sex ratio (918 girls per 1,000 boys in 2011).- Joint initiative of Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and Ministry of Human Resource Development.- Implemented in 405 districts across India. |
| Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 | - Aims to prevent child marriage in society.- Marriage of a man below 21 or a woman below 18 is categorized as child marriage.- Punishment: Rigorous imprisonment up to two years or fine up to Rs 1 lakh, or both. Women are not punished with imprisonment.- Offences are cognizable and non-bailable.- Provision to declare minor child marriages invalid. |