By Ramiz Raja
Child marriage may be declining in official records, but on the ground it still shapes the lives of many girls. In parts of Jammu and Kashmir, especially in rural and economically weak communities, early marriage has not completely disappeared. The latest data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019–21) shows that around 5% of women aged 20–24 in Jammu and Kashmir were married before the legal age of 18, a decline from previous years. The median age at first marriage for women aged 25–49 stands at 23.6 years, indicating improvement.
These numbers suggest progress. Yet statistics alone cannot reflect the emotional cost carried by young girls whose education and childhood are cut short.
A Visit to Village Korga, Dansal Jammu
During field visits in one of the backward rural villages of Jammu district — Village Korga, Dansal — we spoke with a young woman who agreed to share her story. She was once a student of Government Girls School, Korga, studying in the 11th class. She was the eldest in her family. Her younger sister, aged 15, is speech-impaired, and her little brother is 13 years old.
She remembered the day her life changed.
“One day after school, I came back home and everyone was smiling and looking at me happily,” she said. “I asked my mother what happened. She said, ‘We have fixed your marriage.’ My father showed me the photo of the groom.”
When she saw the picture, she froze.
“He looked like my father’s age. He was 37 years old — almost double my age. I was in shock. I left the kitchen and went to my bedroom. That night I cried a lot. I had so many dreams for my life. I wanted to study, maybe go to college. But everything crashed in one moment.”
When she asked her mother why they had made this decision, her mother replied emotionally, “I don’t know how many years I will live. Before I die, I want to marry you with my own hands.”
Her father, she said, struggled with alcohol and smoking and rarely cared about the children’s needs. Her mother worked in other people’s homes to earn money. Poverty and insecurity shaped every decision.
“I accepted it after that. I never asked again,” she said quietly.
Poverty, Pressure, and Silence
The family did not have enough money for the wedding. They approached the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for assistance, which provided financial help. They also applied for a government marriage assistance scheme and received ₹50,000. Neighbours contributed ration and small items for the ceremony.
“No one came to our house to ask why we were marrying me at this age,” she said. “No one questioned it.”
On the wedding day, she recalled another painful moment.
“The groom asked for a gold ring. We did not even have money for daily expenses. My mother somehow arranged it. I left my home with many questions in my heart.”
She became a mother at 18. Today, she has a baby girl.
“Life goes on,” she said, holding back tears. “But sometimes I think — if I was born in a rich family, maybe I would be in college now, studying and following my dreams.”
At that point, she began to cry, and we stopped asking further questions.
Why Early Marriage Still Happens
Her story reflects several realities that continue in some communities:
• Poverty: Families struggling financially may see marriage as a way to reduce responsibility.
• Parental insecurity: Illness, fear of death, or uncertainty about the future pushes parents to marry daughters early.
• Addiction and neglect: In some homes, fathers dealing with substance abuse fail to take responsibility for children’s welfare
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• Lack of questioning: Neighbours and relatives often remain silent instead of intervening.
• Cultural pressure: Marriage is treated as a priority over education, especially for girls.
While awareness campaigns under initiatives like Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat and the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao program are active in many rural parts of Jammu division, changing deep-rooted thinking takes time.
Government departments and NGOs regularly organize village seminars explaining the legal age of marriage, the importance of girls’ consent, and the health risks of teenage pregnancy. These efforts have contributed to the decline shown in NFHS data. However, stories like the one from Korga remind us that social change does not happen overnight.
The Larger Context
Historically, child marriage has been more common in rural India. A 2009 report by the Registrar General of India showed higher rates in states such as Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam. Though Jammu and Kashmir currently reports relatively lower percentages compared to many states, isolated cases remain.
The concern is not just about numbers. It is about age gaps, forced consent, financial desperation, and emotional trauma. When a 16-year-old girl is married to a man twice her age, the issue is not only legal — it is about power imbalance and lost childhood.
Moving Forward
Reducing child marriage further requires continued effort at every level:
• Regular community dialogue: Parents must be engaged repeatedly, not just once.
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• Stronger school retention: Girls should be encouraged to complete higher secondary and pursue college.
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• Economic support for families: Poverty often drives such decisions; sustainable livelihoods can change outcomes.
• Encouraging intervention: Neighbours and relatives should not stay silent.
• Listening to girls: Consent must be meaningful, not forced.
The NFHS-5 data shows that Jammu and Kashmir has made progress. But progress must reach every village and every household.
As the young woman from Korga said before we left, “If parents understand what early marriage does to a girl’s life, they will think differently.”
Her voice represents many others who never get the chance to speak.
Disclaimer : To report a child marriage, dial helpline: 1098, Police helpline 100) This report was filed under Population First’s Laadli Media Fellowship 2026.
