India has over 11.5 lakh children vulnerable to child marriage: NCPR report

A study to identify children at risk of child marriage done on the directions of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPR) revealed that more than 11.5 lakh children across the 27 states and seven Union territories were vulnerable, reported TOI.

These children, mostly girls, were school dropouts or had been irregular or absent from school for long without any intimation to authorities.

Uttar Pradesh topped the list with more than 5 lakh vulnerable children, Assam followed with 1.5 lakh children and Madhya Pradesh has close to 1 lakh such children.



The Union territories of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands reported no vulnerable children. The report stated that many districts did not conduct the exercise, while Goa and Ladakh did not share data.

The campaign was launched in March and mapped over 6 lakh schools covering nearly three lakh villages and throughout the country.

The data has been sent to states last week along with a letter from NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo. He has has asked to ensure measures to step-up prevention of child marriage.

Speaking to TOI on Wednesday, which was also his last day in office as he completed his second term as NCPCR chairperson, Kanoongo said, "Ensuring children are in school is a critical preventive measure to combat child marriage."


The states have been instructed to take various preventive measures, including preparing a school-wise list of children who are drop out, out of school and not attending school regularly. They were also asked to draw a separate list of children absent from school without intimation to the principal.

The list is to be prepared by the education department of the district and shared with the district magistrate and the child marriage prohibition officer to identify children from these lists who can be at risk of child marriage.

They were also asked to conduct family counselling and proper inquiry of all such identified children.