In what can be termed as a shameful record, Andhra Pradesh leads among the south Indian States among child marriages cases. Prakasam district in Andhra Pradesh had a record number of child marriages in the state with 46.6 percent, research by Mahita, an independent body working under the ‘Plan india Movement’ found out.
The other districts that follow are Kurnool (44.5 percent), Krishna (35.9 percent), visakhapatnam (35.5 percent) and Anantapur (26.8 percent). tradition and societal norms are said to be the reasons for this social evil. Despite being a well-developed district, krishna district is still third in the list of the state.
According to the statistics, the study found out that 33 percent of girls and 11 percent of minor boys were married in their childhood. In the age group of 20-29 years, 35.7 percent of women and 18.9 percent of men, were married before the age of 18. About 13 percent of women between 15-18 years were either already mothers or were pregnant, the study found out. The role of the State Government failing in educating the people about this social evil is also the major reason.
