The Union Cabinet approved a
proposal to raise the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 21, the same
as it is for men on December 15. This approval comes over a year after Prime
Minister Narendra Modi announced the proposal on India's Independence Day, in
the year 2020.
The proposal is based on the
suggestions of a task force established by the Centre to look into concerns
such as maternal age, the imperatives of lowering MMR (Maternal Mortality
Rate), nutritional levels, and other linked issues."
The plan was mentioned by Prime
Minister Modi during his Independence Day speech last year.
"The health of daughters and
sisters is a constant concern for our government. To protect the daughters from
malnutrition, they must marry at the appropriate age," said PM Modi.
Currently, for men, the legal age
to get married is 21, while for women, it is 18.
Congress and other political
parties have been opposing this bill. Parties are demanding that this potential
bill should be sent to the Standing Committee for review. Congress is
questioning the government’s motivation in bringing such legislation.
KC Venugopal said, "In the
last days of the winter session, the Modi government is looking at the hurry to
bring 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 is
steps for their educational and economic upliftment. Clearly, the government
had not held proper discussions with various stakeholders before taking up this
proposal. Therefore, Congress is against any attempt by the government to
push through such a bill."
He said that the government
should consult with various women's public representatives and organizations
before bringing a bill to raise the minimum age of marriage for women to 21
years.
Also read: For women empowerment, Cabinet clears bill to raise women's legal marriage age from 18 to 21
Many Muslim organizations in Kerala
have criticized the union government’s move. Muslim League leader E T Mohammad
Basheer said, “We will oppose this. The government is trying to implement the
Sangh Parivar’s favourite agenda of uniform civil code. The Muslim personal law
board clearly defines marriage, divorce and the right to property. These issues
relate to our faith.”
But the apex body of Christians,
Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) welcomed this decision.