Impact of Child Marriage in Tamilnadu

Child marriage constitutes a severe violation of human rights, disproportionately affecting girls and representing one of the most pervasive forms of gender-based exploitation. Although absent from early religious and literary references such as the Sangam literature, the practice became entrenched during the Middle Ages, often driven by cultural norms and socio-economic insecurities. In many communities, parents marry off daughters as young as 8–10 years, motivated by the perceived need to preserve family honor, safeguard virginity, and transfer responsibility. Such early unions have far-reaching public health and social consequences, including elevated fertility rates, compromised maternal health from repeated early pregnancies, and increased maternal and child mortality. Eliminating child marriage is therefore imperative to advancing gender equality, improving health outcomes, and protecting the rights and futures of children.