Early Child Marriage in Janakpur Municipality
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Department of Population Studies
Abstract
This research work “Early Child Marriage in Janakpur Municipality” was carried out in Janakpur Municipality, where the case of early child marriage is most prevalent in Maithali community. Examining the trend as well as reasons of early child marriage and finding out the impact of this practice on girls are main objectives. For this, one hundred andtwenty-seven women who got married in early child age (less than 19years of age) were taken for sample study. The traditional and culturalbelieves are playing dominant role in determining the age at marriage of girl. Similarly, the economic cause is also playing dominant role in determining the age at marriage of girl. One in every five female got married in early child age because of dowry system. Female age at marriage is lower than male age at marriage. Mostly Terai Dalits and Janajatis are found involved in early child marriage practice. AmongTerai Brahmin and Chhetris and Kayasth this practice is in decliningpattern. Parents do not have proper knowledge on early child marriage that this practice is harmful for her daughter and illegal from the laws of state as well. Parents and even the respondents never saw any legal action against these practices. Though our law and policies on marriage are said very well, the implementation mechanism is very poor. More than half respondents are literate. Very few, thirty two percent respondents have ever used the method of contraception. Among current user injectable is the most famous method of contraception. According to respondents, they became deprived from their right of education and even their freedom lost after early marriage. Early child marriage is bad tradition we are following in our society, it should be alleviated. The positive glimpses have been observed through times.