The incidence of child marriages is steadily declining in Odisha, a state that once recorded the highest number of such weddings in the country. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6 for 2023-24, 18.6% of women aged 20 to 24 years were married before reaching the legal age of 18. This marks a decrease from 20.5% recorded in the previous survey cycle for 2019-20.
Decline in Male Child Marriages
There has also been a minor reduction in male child marriages. Among men aged 25 to 29 years, 12.5% were married before the legal age of 21, reflecting a 0.8% decline compared to the previous survey period. Both female and male child marriage rates in Odisha are now below the national averages of 20.1% and 15.9%, respectively.
Urban-Rural Divide Persists
However, the burden of child marriage remains unevenly distributed across gender and geography. In rural Odisha, 19.3% of women aged 20-24 were married before age 18, compared to 14.7% in urban areas. Conversely, among men aged 25-29, early marriage was more prevalent in urban areas, with 15.1% married before 21, versus 12.1% in rural regions.
Adolescent Motherhood Shows Improvement
The survey also indicates modest progress in reducing adolescent motherhood. Currently, 6.5% of women aged 15-19 in Odisha are either mothers or pregnant, slightly below the national average of 6.7%. However, the rural-urban gap remains stark: 7.2% in rural areas compared to 2.8% in urban areas. This disparity mirrors the higher incidence of child marriages in rural regions, highlighting the close link between early marriage and early pregnancy.
Health and Socioeconomic Impacts
Experts warn that adolescent pregnancies pose significant health risks for both mothers and infants, while also limiting educational and economic opportunities for young women. The data underscores the need for targeted interventions in rural areas, including efforts to delay marriage, improve access to reproductive health services, and keep girls in school longer.
Government Initiatives
Officials in the Women and Child Development Department have launched the Advika initiative, which focuses on preventing child marriages and school dropouts, as well as providing job-oriented skills training for adolescent boys and girls. This program is currently underway across the state.
