Himachal Pradesh To Raise Minimum Marital Age For Women To 21 Years

The Himachal Pradesh Assembly passed a bill to raise the minimum marital of women from 18 to 21 years. According to a report in The Indian Express, the House passed the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment Bill 2024) by voice vote on August 27, the first day of the two-week monsoon session. The bill now awaits the approval of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla. If passed, Himachal Pradesh will reportedly be one of the first States in India to raise the minimum age of marriage. 

Himachal Pradesh Marital Age Bill

The Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a Bill to raise the minimum marital age of women. Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu stated it is the first State to take the initiative, and "the Congress has always been at the forefront to work towards the betterment of women."

बेटियों की विवाह की उम्र बढ़ाने से उन्हें शिक्षा और कैरियर पर पूरा ध्यान देने का अवसर मिलेगा, जिससे वह न केवल आर्थिक रूप से आत्मनिर्भर बनेंगी, बल्कि मानसिक रूप से भी सशक्त होंगी।

इस निर्णय से उनका जीवन और समाज दोनों समृद्ध होंगे।

~ मुख्यमंत्री ठाकुर सुखविंद्र सिंह सुक्खू pic.twitter.com/uBRowUnbHu

— CMO HIMACHAL (@CMOFFICEHP) August 29, 2024

The Prohibition of Child Marriage (Himachal Pradesh Amendment Bill 2024) was tabled by Dhani Ram Shandil, the State's Health, Social Justice, and Empowerment Minister. It was earlier introduced in the Vidhan Sabha in February 2024 during the budget session but was not passed. 

Introducing the Bill in the House, Shandil stated that it has become necessary to make amendments to the Child Marriage Act 2006 to facilitate gender equality and higher education opportunities. The minister also cited that early pregnancy and motherhood negatively impact women's health. 

इससे हमारी बेटियाँ परिवार सँभालने में सक्षम होंगी, मातृत्व के लिए जागरूक बनेंगी और कुपोषण जैसी बीमारियों से बच सकेंगी।

अब अज्ञानता का समय नहीं रहा। जब बेटी शिक्षित होकर आत्मनिर्भर बनेगी, तो माता-पिता को भी बहुत सहायता मिलेगी।

~ मुख्यमंत्री ठाकुर सुखविंद्र सिंह सुक्खू

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— CMO HIMACHAL (@CMOFFICEHP) August 28, 2024

India's Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill, 2021 — to increase the minimum age of marriage of females to 21 years — was introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2021, referring to the standing committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports. 

The central Bill would have overridden any other law, custom, or practice. The standing committee received multiple extensions, however, the Bill lapsed in June 2024 after the 17th Lok Sabha was dissolved after the members of the 18th Lok Sabha were elected in the general elections.