Child marriage in Rajasthan
26 images Created 14 Mar 2010
Despite the fact that Indian legislation prohibits marriage under the age of 18, 40% of the world's child marriages occur in India. It is estimated that 47% of India's women aged 20-24 were married before the legal age of 18. In the rural villages of Rajasthan (the Indian state where child marriage is more deeply rooted) this percentage can soar up to 80%.
In most Rajasthan child marriage cases, the weddings occur at very young age but the bride remains with her family until sexual maturity; only then will she actually move to her husband's family house. Despite this, most girls and boys are forced to quit school once they are married. Other risks of child marriage include premature pregnancy and consequential rise in maternal mortality, violence and abuse on behalf of husbands and husband's family members.
The 2006 "Child marriage act" - which punishes with jail whoever performs or abets child marriages and allows voidance of a marriage if requested by a minor - had scarcely any effect in the villages of Rajasthan, where marriage among minors is a widespread tradition and is largely tolerated by authorities.
These pictures were shot in June and July 2009 among small communities (both Hindu and Muslim) in rural villages in the Rajasthani districts of Tonk, Sawai Madhopur and Jaisalmer, where small local NGO's do their best to inform the communities of the risks involved in under age marriage in order to reduce its occurrence but have a hard time dealing with deeply rooted traditions. In most of these villages poverty is the rule: no running water, no electricity, no jobs except farming and herding.
The subjects of these pictures include young boys and girls which were married under age and still live with their natural families, young married couples which live together and older couples which were married under age.
HONOURABLE MENTION AT SANTA FE CENTER'S PROJECT COMPETITION: http://www.visitcenter.org/newsite/gallery.php?artist=alessandra_quadri
In most Rajasthan child marriage cases, the weddings occur at very young age but the bride remains with her family until sexual maturity; only then will she actually move to her husband's family house. Despite this, most girls and boys are forced to quit school once they are married. Other risks of child marriage include premature pregnancy and consequential rise in maternal mortality, violence and abuse on behalf of husbands and husband's family members.
The 2006 "Child marriage act" - which punishes with jail whoever performs or abets child marriages and allows voidance of a marriage if requested by a minor - had scarcely any effect in the villages of Rajasthan, where marriage among minors is a widespread tradition and is largely tolerated by authorities.
These pictures were shot in June and July 2009 among small communities (both Hindu and Muslim) in rural villages in the Rajasthani districts of Tonk, Sawai Madhopur and Jaisalmer, where small local NGO's do their best to inform the communities of the risks involved in under age marriage in order to reduce its occurrence but have a hard time dealing with deeply rooted traditions. In most of these villages poverty is the rule: no running water, no electricity, no jobs except farming and herding.
The subjects of these pictures include young boys and girls which were married under age and still live with their natural families, young married couples which live together and older couples which were married under age.
HONOURABLE MENTION AT SANTA FE CENTER'S PROJECT COMPETITION: http://www.visitcenter.org/newsite/gallery.php?artist=alessandra_quadri
