The current government in India has decided to raise the legal age for marriage for women from 18 to 21. If the law is implemented, it will bring the legal marriageable age of boys and girls at par, which is 21 years. The decision has initiated debates on whether it will prove to be a boon or curse for women. However, there are a number of women’s groups who have raised certain concerns over this decision and released a memorandum.
On Wednesday, a bunch of women’s groups in New Delhi released a memorandum, which highlighted the main concerns that lie with the aforementioned decision of the government. The most worrisome aspect that has been highlighted in the memorandum is that it will criminalize consensual marriages in adults as well. The women’s groups further question that if a person is adult enough to decide the future of the country at the age of 18 and vote, then why not a partner?
The released memorandum was mainly signed by the heads of All India Democratic Women’s Association, National Federation of Women, All India Progressive Women’s Association, Pragatisheel Mahila Sangathan, and All India Mahila Sanskritik Sangathan, as reported by TOI.
The women’s groups also said that this law can take away the autonomy of adult women. As for the maternal and health issues of women, these can be dealt with effectively by working towards better nutritional health for women and simultaneously keeping the liberty of women in terms of deciding about marriage and motherhood. The group insisted that these decisions of women should not be influenced by family, organizations, or government.
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The women’s groups also asserted that the legal marriageable age for both men and women should be fixed at 18, they backed this statement with the Law Commission Report of 2008 of reforming family laws and the Indian Majority Act 1875.
