EARLY MARRIAGE: NEGLECTED FORM OF CHILD ABUSE

Abstract

The practice of “Early Marriage” has been an ancient phenomenon specially developed for girl’s arranged marriage in the disguise of “Paro” (which means a bride bought from other regions i.e., transnational migration) or “Molki” (Paid brides in which girl’s family gets money from groom’s family). The impoverishment is the push-factor behind bride trafficking in Northern Lines of India. Female feticide and infanticide have declined the sex ration and has resulted in shortage of brides. The “Molki” practice is more prevalent among backward class because disadvantaged class are poverty stricken social groups which are unable to find local brides in their own community; as a result, the social group opts for paid bride from other regions which gradually makes a practice among community. These men resort to buying inter-region brides from the poorer areas. Early marriage of child benefits both the families by rendering money to the poor family and bride to the disadvantaged family against monetary exchange. North-East states are more affected by inter and intra trafficking of brides against monetary transaction. As such trafficking includes forced sale or resale minor girls in the fake name of marriage, sometimes girls are abducted, raped or abused for sexual slavery and marriage at the clemency of the groom and his family who have “paid” for her. Dearth, orphan at early childhood age, lack of education, orthodox and culturally sanctioned harsh practices and norms, monetary quest of parents, parental separation, etc. are major push factors contributing in the rise in bride trafficking. The practice is profoundly more in rural and tribal areas because bride prices are much higher among rural communities. In counterfactual exercises, parents entirely rely on early marriage and bride price for their easy survival. Taking into consideration the positive side of bride trafficking, lack of steady economic market cannot fill the financial gap of poor families and unnecessary prohibition upon such reciprocal practices may worsen the life of daughter’s parents. “The society in which a girl child is accepted unwillingly and in the form of burden, bride trafficking is an absurd reality for such society.” ITPA (Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act) is the special statute enforced to curb illegal activities like forced prostitution, sexual abuse, and minor’s trafficking but the act is insufficient to cover all he forms of crimes and trafficking. Thus, this article involves analyses of current situations, demographic data, various aspects of bride trafficking, causes and current legal status on bride trafficking. In first section, the paper will explain technical definition of every term related to early marriage given by institutions like United Nations and special departments. In second section, the affecting factors accountable for trafficking of minor brides through forced marriage will be discussed at length. In last part, the impact upon the society along with statistic data will be narrated. Consequently, the paper will focus on transforming stage of issue of bride-trafficking which earlier existed in hidden form but now a days has become culturally sanctioned practice in society.