Association between Teenage Marriage and Socio Economic & Aneamia Status in West Bengal

Child Marriage deprives the child of the inherent dignity which has been elaborated and recognized in The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966. The driving factors for child marriages are multidimensional and deeply rooted in community specific socio- cultural practices and circumstances. At present, this practice is still persistent and arises from the low value given to women and girls. Child marriages can hamper a girl’s educational attainment and her chances to participate in the labour force. The isolation and violence inflicted upon the girls can further have physical and psychological health impacts. Child marriages lead to devastating consequences for women’s health. Since child brides lack self-esteem and sense of ownership of their body, they are likely to bear forced sexual relations. Young girls who are married early, drop out of school, and hence remain uneducated or undereducated. Less education makes these women unable to take advantages of economic opportunities. The findings suggest that increasing opportunities for girls’ education and providing financial assistance to the poor families would eliminate the practice of child marriage among Indian women.