Srinagar, October 16: In an important development on child rights in Jammu and Kashmir,on the appeal of Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi for a nationwide “Child Marriage Free India ” campaign, Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF) in collaboration with Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre Society will hold a statewide torchlight procession to create public awareness for October 16 nationwide launch of the campaign.
Especially in Kashmir we launch Shikara Campaign to attract and reach this campaign throughout the nation. This procession will be held in 28 villages of 6 districts of Kashmir Valley viz Srinagar, Baramulla,
Bandipora, Budgam, Anantnag & Ganderbal. The procession will be led by women leaders of the state including child marriage survivors. The details of the campaign was announced at a meeting today.
In this context, it is important to highlight the status of child marriage in Jammu and Kashmir. According to Census 2011, around 12 lakh children were married off before the age of 18, which constituted around 10% of all married children in the country. Also National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) has revealed that only six percent of women have been married before reaching the legal minimum age of 18 in Jammu and Kashmir. The UT ranked 12th in the country. The study by National Family Health Survey (NFHS V) also corroborates Census 2011 report.
The study by NFHS V reports that nationally 23.3% women between the age group of 20-24 were married off before attaining the age of 18.
These figures demonstrate the negative implications of child marriage on national development.
