The Union Cabinet approved aproposal to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21, the sameas it is for men on December 15. This approval comes over a year after PrimeMinister Narendra Modi announced the proposal on India's Independence Day, inthe year 2020.
The proposal is based on thesuggestions of a task force established by the Centre to look into concernssuch as maternal age, the imperatives of lowering MMR (Maternal MortalityRate), nutritional levels, and other linked issues."
The plan was mentioned by PrimeMinister Modi during his Independence Day speech last year.
"The health of daughters andsisters is a constant concern for our government. To protect the daughters frommalnutrition, they must marry at the appropriate age," said PM Modi.
Currently, for men, the legal ageto get married is 21, while for women, it is 18.
Congress and other politicalparties have been opposing this bill. Parties are demanding that this potentialbill should be sent to the Standing Committee for review. Congress isquestioning the government’s motivation in bringing such legislation.
KC Venugopal said, "In thelast days of the winter session, the Modi government is looking at the hurry tobring a bill in Parliament to raise the age of marriage of women to 21 years,doubts and politics. What the young women, especially in rural areas, need issteps for their educational and economic upliftment. Clearly, the governmenthad not held proper discussions with various stakeholders before taking up thisproposal. Therefore, Congress is against any attempt by the government topush through such a bill."
He said that the governmentshould consult with various women's public representatives and organizationsbefore bringing a bill to raise the minimum age of marriage for women to 21years.
Many Muslim organizations in Keralahave criticized the union government’s move. Muslim League leader E T MohammadBasheer said, “We will oppose this. The government is trying to implement theSangh Parivar’s favourite agenda of uniform civil code. The Muslim personal lawboard clearly defines marriage, divorce and the right to property. These issuesrelate to our faith.”
But the apex body of Christians,Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) welcomed this decision.