Union Cabinet Approves Proposal To Increase Marriageable Age Of Girls From 18 To 21 Year. But Twitter Has Weird Reactions!
On Wednesday, Union Cabinet officially approved the proposal to raise the marriageable age of women from the previous 18 year to 21 years. Following the approval, the Central Government will introduce an amendment to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and Special Marriage Act to raise the age as well as to the personal laws governing marriage like the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. We can’t help but hail the government for finally moving towards bringing the marriageable age of girls in India at par with the men.
This move comes over a year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the plan during his Independence Day speech in 2020. PM Modi had stated that the idea to change the marriageable age of women is aimed at saving them from malnutrition. This proposal was backed by a NITI Aayog task force headed by Jaya Jaitly. The task force had examined the issues related to the age of motherhood, Maternal Mortality Rates, nutritional levels of girls and other such factors. Following the examination, the task force had recommended that the minimum age of marriage for women be pushed to 21 years. They also stressed the importance of a woman being at least 21 years of age at the time of first pregnancy.
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At the beginning of 2021, the Supreme Court of India had also admitted a petition that sought uniform age of marriage for men and women. The plea challenged the Indian personal laws which allow women to marry at the age of 18 years and men at 21 years. The petition claims that the difference in the marriageable age of men and women not only promotes gender inequality and stereotypes but also violates the constitutional rights of women under Articles 14, 15 and 21.
We definitely see this as a win. This move has received a warm welcome not only by feminists but also by netizens as #MarriageAge trends on Twitter. Let’s take a quick look at some interesting reactions and memes shared by people on the microblogging platform.
Govt of India plans to increase the age of marriage of daughters from 18 to 21 years. The cabinet has approved the proposal.
Meanwhile me dreaming to Marry after 18 years of age be like:- pic.twitter.com/pK9uzMOZ4O
— Sunaina Bhola (@sunaina_bhola) December 16, 2021
https://twitter.com/sangpuchangsan7/status/1471380915062394881
Govt to increase #MarriageAge of girls 18 yrs to 21 yrs.
Meanwhile boys eagerly waiting to marry their 18 yrs old girl friend be like:- pic.twitter.com/hsO2Mehkps
— Socially Responsible (@SocialResponse8) December 16, 2021
https://twitter.com/rishu_1809/status/1471405155631259652
*Legal #MarriageAge for women raised from 18 to 21 years*
Le conservative Rajasthani parents. pic.twitter.com/OwDTsft8ud
— Emotional Black-Male 👨🏽 (@i_akp_30) December 16, 2021
https://twitter.com/Alex_Flex0/status/1471408683565211650
Nibbas after knowing that their Crush can't get married for 3 more years #MarriageAge pic.twitter.com/7p2P3vM21S
— 𝐕𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐲 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐚 (@mintu_47) December 16, 2021
Well, we wholeheartedly welcome this move aimed at gender equality!
