Himachal govt mulls raising minimum marriage

The Newz Radar

SHIMLA: In a significant move aimed at empowering women and fostering social change, the Himachal Pradesh government is contemplating increasing the minimum age for girls to marry from 18 to 21 years.

The initiative aims to bring the legal marriage age for women on a par with men (21 years). This change is intended to serve as a significant catalyst for achieving greater gender equality in society. It will create opportunities for girls to pursue and successfully complete their education, professional training and vocational courses.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu disclosed this during a public event in Solan district. He said the government planned to establish a committee to conduct an in-depth study of the proposed age increment.

This is not the first instance where Chief Minister Sukhu has spoken about enhancing the marriage age for girls in Himachal. On multiple occasions, he has underscored his commitment to female empowerment and suggested increasing the legal marriage age. These pronouncements have been made during various public addresses, including the launch of the Sukhashray Yojana and other official events.

“The potential change in the minimum marriage age for girls reflects the government’s dedication to enhancing the status of women and reinforcing their rights in the state,” said a Congress leader.
Interestingly, a similar law is in the works in Parliament. The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021, which seeks to raise the minimum legal age of marriage for girls from 18 to 21 years, was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2021.

Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani had tabled the bill amid uproar as the Opposition demanded that it should be sent to the parliamentary standing committee. Later, the minister announced the government’s intention to send the bill to the standing committee and it was subsequently sent to the panel.

The increase in minimum age of marriage for women to 21 years would come into effect two years after the bill is notified following its passage in Parliament, the government had said. The gap would provide ample time to citizens to prepare for this “momentous” reform, it added.