Municipalities launch campaign against child marriage

By Our Correspondent,Mahottari, June 8: Locals of various municipalities in Mahottari district have launched a campaign against child marriage, striving to align with the national policy aimed at eradicating child marriage across the country.

To end child marriage practices, a few municipalities are conducting various campaigns by formulating various policies and programmes, while others have issued Child Marriage Free Municipal Procedures. The government aims to end child marriage by 2030.

Pipara Rural Municipality of the district has issued a Child Marriage Free Working Procedure 2024, to declare itself a child marriage-free municipality.  

With the slogan 'Balbibaha Jivan Tabah' meaning (child marriage ruins life), the rural municipality is organising a large gathering to declare it a child marriage-free municipality by June 15.

Ram Janaki Yadav, the Mayor of Pipara Rural Municipality, stated that to effectively implement the national policy aimed at eradicating child marriage practices, endorsed by the federal government, he has devised a plan within the municipality. He aims to eliminate child marriages from the municipality by June 15.

"A report shows that 42 per cent of marriages involve underaged brides or grooms. The municipality is preparing to declare it a child marriage-free municipality by mobilising priests and religious leaders of different religious groups in different progrmmes, activities and awareness-raising campaigns," said Yadav.

Matihani Municipality of the district has been conducting a campaign to make it child marriage-free and has been advocating that one should marry only after completing the age of 20. 

Hari Prasad Mandal, Mayor of Matihani Municipality, remarked that despite numerous attempts to eradicate child marriage and the dowry system, they haven't seen much success. However, they have taken a significant step by officially declaring the elimination of both practices in their policies and programmes. He emphasised that they are now executing these initiatives with heightened dedication and focus.

The municipality has honoured parents of 25 households for discouraging child marriage and the dowry system.

The district has been conducting a project at seven local levels in coordination with different NGOs and INGOs to reduce the occurrences of child marriage in the district. Life skill and behavioural change education are being conducted in 49 schools at seven local levels to end child marriage. 

The local authorities are implementing initiatives to raise awareness among both children and parents, including activities like street performances, establishing child clubs, providing training sessions and promoting child-friendly governance, all aimed at reducing the occurrence of child marriages

Similarly, the District Police Office Mahottari has been conducting public awareness programmes to reduce child marriage by reaching the slums of Dom, Chamar, Halkhor and other castes where child marriages are high.

Two wards of Bardibas Municipality have been declared child marriage-free, Ward Nos. 10 and 11 in Khayarmara of Bardibas Municipality have already been declared child marriage-free. 

Article 39 of the Constitution of Nepal prohibits child marriage. Clause 5 of Article 39 provides that no child shall be held hostage for child marriage, illegal trafficking, or abduction.  There is also a provision in the constitution that says, acts contrary to this clause are punishable.

A person who commits the offence of child marriage can be imprisoned for up to three years and can be fined up to Rs. 30,000. The Civil Code 2017 has provided that the age of marriage should be 20 years.  It has been arranged that if anyone is found tying a nuptial knot before reaching the age, it will be automatically annulled and invalid.