Haryana’s Battle Against Child Marriage: A Society Torn Between Tradition and Progress

In Haryana, the clash between tradition and modernity is stark, especially when it comes to child marriage. Despite laws and campaigns, families, often driven by patriarchal beliefs, continue to marry off their daughters before the legal age of 18. For many, it’s about “ghar ki izzat” (family honor), fear of elopement, or outdated customs like atta satta (exchange marriages). But behind these decisions are young girls whose dreams are cut short.

From April 2014 to January 2025, Haryana recorded 4,538 complaints of child marriage under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006. The numbers tell a grim story, though experts say the reality is worse—many cases go unreported. Sirsa topped the list with 481 complaints, followed by Panipat (476) and Fatehabad (438). Mewat reported 388 cases. The year 2016-17 saw the highest spike with 675 complaints, while 2024 showed a decline at 294—the second-lowest in a decade. Yet, this dip doesn’t mean the problem is fading.

Take Priya (name changed), a 16-year-old from Sirsa. She was set to be married last Akshaya Tritiya, a day notorious for underage weddings. Her parents, worried about “what people would say,” arranged her marriage to a man twice her age. Thankfully, a vigilant neighbor alerted the authorities, and a policewoman stepped in to stop the ceremony. Priya is now back in school, but her story is one of the few with a happy ending.

The administration is on high alert, especially during auspicious wedding seasons like Akshaya Tritiya. District officials have instructed stakeholders to verify the bride and groom’s ages. But the roots of child marriage run deep. Lack of education, poverty, and societal pressure fuel the practice. In some communities, families fear their daughters entering “love marriages” or live-in relationships, pushing them to marry early.

Haryana’s society is at a crossroads. On one hand, the state celebrates women excelling in sports, education, and beyond. On the other, a section clings to regressive beliefs. Some khap panchayats, influential community councils, are even demanding the legal marriage age for girls be lowered from 18 to 16. In a recent meeting with Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana Commission for Women, khap leaders from Jind argued this would curb love affairs and live-in relationships.

But voices for change are rising. Sunil Jaglan, the mind behind the Selfie with Daughter campaign, is pushing to raise the marriage age to 21. “At 18, girls aren’t ready—physically or mentally—for marriage or motherhood,” he says. Surender Singh Maan, CEO of Mission to the Desperate and Destitute of India, an NGO fighting child marriage in 14 Haryana districts, agrees. “The data is a wake-up call. We need to stop these marriages before they happen,” he urges.

The fight is tough but not hopeless. Awareness campaigns, stricter enforcement, and education can rewrite the future for Haryana’s girls. For now, every stopped marriage, like Priya’s, is a small victory in a long battle.