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Invariably, due to a lack of education, impoverishment, or societal pressure, many Indian females are married off before attaining the age of 18. It is often said that when girls are born, the family starts calculating the amount to be spent on her marriage.
By Vyoma Jain
Child Rights Expert
PGDCRL, NLS, Bangalore
It is a profound saying, 'One daughter is equal to ten sons. Whatever phala (merits, good results) a person attains by siring and upbringing sons, the same phala is attained by begetting a single daughter alone.' Yet, when we see the plight of girls in India, it is dismaying. The infant mortality rate in India is higher for girls compared to boys due to parental neglect, patriarchy, and other social factors. The child sex ratio at birth has slightly increased over the years, but opportunities given to the boy and girl child vary remarkably. Due to the preference for male children, girls are often denied the right to education, a healthy lifestyle, and many other basic rights, including their right to life. Had they been empowered with these rights, they would have the potential to change the world.
Invariably, due to a lack of education, impoverishment, or societal pressure, many Indian females are married off before attaining the age of 18. It is often said that when girls are born, the family starts calculating the amount to be spent on their marriage. Most of these women are unaware of their bodily rights, generally leading to unintended early-age pregnancy, which is not only detrimental to their health but also to the health of the child. The nutrition of the mother is hardly cared for, which leads to anemia, malnourishment, stunting, and myriad other diseases. India is home to the maximum number of stunted children in the world. This further marginalizes the women as they end up rearing the children alone. Those belonging to the labor class often lose their jobs, and others face constant challenges and family pressure to give up their careers to look after their child.
Here are some excerpts from my interaction with a victim of child marriage:
'My parents died at a very early age, so my relatives, who considered me a responsibility, thought to marry me off to a 40-year-old man, who himself was a father of two. Despite my resentment, they did not pay heed to my request and still pressured me to marry…' - Reena (married at 16 years)
According to a UN study, 'nearly 50% of global pregnancies are unintended, 60% of unintended pregnancies end in abortion, and 45% of all abortions are unsafe, leading to 5-13% of maternal deaths. Moreover, unintended pregnancies can push women out of the labor market, which can push them into poverty. This then results in poorer nutrition and a decline in schooling for girls.'
Women lack decision-making power in households, where in their maternal homes, they are recognized as their father’s daughters, and after marriage, as their husband’s wives. A study by the Indian Human Development Survey showed that out of the total sample, 80 percent of women said they needed to get permission to visit a health center. Sometimes, even after marriage, women do not have the right over their bodies, leading to sexual exploitation by their husbands. Being unaware of the use of contraceptives leads to multiple abortions or excessive usage of contraceptive pills, which has a pernicious effect on their health. Although, on average, women live longer than men, it cannot be said that they live a healthier life than men. Social norms, taboos, and stigmas play a vital role in the health status of girls and women.
Another important challenge faced by adolescent girls is access to sanitary napkins, especially in rural areas. Poor menstrual hygiene can pose serious reproductive and urinary tract infections, which can result in birth complications. Not washing hands after changing sanitary products can also cause diseases like Hepatitis B, but they are oblivious to it. The stigmas and taboos attached to menstruation, like denying entry into temples or the kitchens in the house, can negatively impact the mental health of girls. This leads to a vicious cycle of illness.
Females constitute around fifty percent of the population, most of whom are engaged in unpaid household work. Without recognizing their role or denying them access to health care, education, and skills, we cannot capitalize on our otherwise favorable demographic dividend. It is a substantial loss for our GDP as well.
The Government, acknowledging gender inequality and the adversities faced by women and girls, has introduced various schemes like Pradhan Mantri Matra Vandan Yojana to incentivize the birth of girl children, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in low child sex ratio cities to spread awareness about the importance of girl children and acknowledging their rights. Celebrating National Girl Child Day on 24 January, and International Day of the Girl Child on 11 October, and the recent 33% reservation for women in the Parliament are all steps in the right direction.
But no significant revolution can occur without educating our girls and changing the mindsets of the patriarchal society that we are a part of. Skilling will also make them financially independent. There is a need for an interventionist approach. We need to identify female influencers, especially from vulnerable areas, who can act as agents of social change and empower other young girls and women. Another aspect that we need to work on is insurance. Insurance penetration is poor in India. Most of the time, the expenses of visiting the hospital prevent people from going to hospitals, which worsens their health. Hence, promoting awareness about the importance of health insurance is imperative.
Skilling and educating women will not only make them financially independent but also empower them to make informed decisions for themselves, which will enhance their self-confidence, improve their health, and contribute to the economy and well-being of the country. However, women sometimes become adversaries for other women, so we need to overcome these societal, patriarchal, psychosocial, and economic barriers and engage men and women equally to foster better health outcomes for women, for which community-level awareness programs can be helpful. Gender Budgeting is also a good concept to evaluate and monitor the outcomes of schemes.
In the end, any decision or policy to empower our girls and women will be futile without the intent to invest in their education and healthcare system. As Michelle Obama has also said, 'Communities and countries, and ultimately the world, are only as strong as the health of their women.'"