Maharashtra Mulls Mandatory Date of Birth on Wedding Cards to Curb Child Marriage
The Maharashtra government is proposing mandatory date of birth printing on wedding cards to curb child marriage. With a current rate of 19.6%, the state aims to reduce child marriage to below 10% through stricter enforcement and enhanced community intervention.
Highlights
- •The Maharashtra government is evaluating a mandate to print the bride and groom's date of birth on wedding invitation cards.
- •The state has set a goal to lower the child marriage rate to under 10 percent over the next five years.
- •Efforts include strict accountability for wedding venues, event organizers, and printers who facilitate child marriages.
- •Child marriage in the state is most prevalent in the Marathwada region, specifically districts like Parbhani and Beed.
The Maharashtra Government is actively exploring new measures to combat child marriage, including a potential mandate to print the dates of birth (DOB) for both the bride and groom on wedding invitation cards. This initiative, designed to improve age verification, draws inspiration from successful practices observed in Rajasthan. Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare emphasized the state's goal to reduce the incidence of child marriage to below 10 percent within the next five years.
To assess the feasibility of this proposal, the administration has engaged with the Rajasthan Government to understand its implementation process. Further consultations are underway involving the Rural Development Department and the Law and Judiciary Department. The proposed policy aims to ensure that wedding invitation cards provide clear evidence of age, potentially involving printing presses, event organizers, and wedding venue owners in the compliance process.
Addressing Child Marriage Rates in Maharashtra
This legislative proposal follows a strong recommendation from the Maharashtra State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. Concerns have been raised regarding a persistent trend of minors entering wedlock in specific regions. While the current child marriage rate in the state sits at 19.6 percent—a decrease from the 21.9 percent recorded between 2019 and 2021—the government remains committed to further curbing these events. Aditi Tatkare highlighted that the rising numbers of interventions and stopped ceremonies reflect improved detection and enforcement efforts rather than an actual increase in occurrences.
Authorities successfully halted 1,495 child marriages during the 2024-25 period and have intervened in 1,434 cases so far this year. The government is broadening its enforcement scope, targeting not only families but also individuals who facilitate these illegal unions, such as priests, musicians, and venue staff. The issue, brought to the forefront by BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, highlights the acute concentration of the problem in Marathwada and various rural agricultural belts. Data indicates that Parbhani district faces the highest rate at 48 percent, followed by Beed, Dhule, and Solapur.
To comprehensively address the root causes, the state is intensifying outreach initiatives, particularly among migrant worker communities. The government plans to expand the availability of child care facilities and residential homes to provide a protective environment for children during migration cycles. By integrating these social supports with stricter regulatory measures like mandatory age verification on wedding cards, Maharashtra aims to significantly lower the prevalence of child marriages across all districts.
