Peer-reviewed article
A STUDY ON CHILD MARRIAGE AND ITS IMPACT ON THE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL GIRLS OF TRIPURA
Twichangma Debbarma ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examines child marriage in rural Tripura, India, where the prevalence is higher than the national average. The research uses qualitative analysis of literature, policy documents, and ethnographic accounts to explore how early marriage disrupts girls' education and development. The study shows that child marriage is interconnected with poverty, gender inequality, school dropout, early pregnancy, and limited economic opportunities. The authors argue that preventing child marriage requires integrated approaches including girls' education, economic empowerment, community participation, and strengthened child protection laws.
Key points
- Child marriage prevalence in Tripura remains considerably higher than India's national average
- Child marriage is closely connected to poverty, gender inequality, and school dropout
- Early marriage leads to early pregnancy, limited economic opportunities, and restricted decision-making for girls
- Prevention requires integrated rural development strategies centred on girls' education and economic empowerment
- Effective implementation of child protection legislation is essential alongside community participation
Limitations
This is a qualitative literature review and thematic analysis rather than empirical data collection, so it does not provide prevalence rates, quantified impacts, or direct measurement of outcomes. The study cannot demonstrate causal relationships or provide evidence on what specific interventions successfully prevent child marriage.
Abstract
Child marriage remains a major social and developmental challenge in India, particularly in rural and economically disadvantaged communities. Although the legal age of marriage for women in India is 18 years, a substantial proportion of girls continue to marry before reaching adulthood. Tripura presents a particularly important case because the prevalence of early marriage remains considerably higher than the national average. This article examines the relationship between child marriage, educational discontinuation and the broader development of rural girls in Tripura. Using a qualitative approach based on thematic analysis of existing scholarly literature, policy documents and ethnographic accounts, the article analyses the social, economic, educational and gender-related consequences of child marriage. The discussion argues that child marriage should not be understood merely as a marriage-related social problem; rather, it is closely connected with poverty, gender inequality, school dropout, early pregnancy, limited economic opportunities, restricted decision-making and intergenerational disadvantage. The article concludes that preventing child marriage requires an integrated rural development strategy centred on girls' education, economic empowerment, community participation, improved secondary and higher-secondary education, and effective implementation of child protection legislation.