Why is awareness about premature marriage higher in rural Bengal?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Rural areas in West Bengal have higher awareness of premature marriage.
- Urban areas show alarming rates of early marriages.
- Government initiatives need to enhance effectiveness in urban campaigns.
- Statistics indicate a pressing need for awareness programs.
- Focus on identifying gaps in current awareness efforts.
Kolkata, Sep 18 (NationPress) The level of awareness regarding the detrimental effects of premature marriage among individuals in the rural areas of West Bengal appears to be significantly greater than that of their counterparts in urban and metropolitan regions. This might sound surprising! Yet, this is precisely the trend highlighted by the latest report on premature marriages across India.
According to the most recent statistics from the sample registration report released earlier this month, the percentage of females marrying before reaching the legal age of 18 in urban and metro areas of West Bengal is alarmingly high at 7.6 percent.
This figure not only represents the highest rate among urban and metropolitan areas in other Indian states but also surpasses the corresponding rate noted in the rural sectors of West Bengal.
In rural areas, the report indicates that the percentage of females marrying before the legal age is below 5.2 percent. This figure, too, is the highest recorded among all Indian states.
“While the data for both rural and urban areas is concerning, it is particularly troubling that the rate in urban and metropolitan regions of West Bengal exceeds that of the rural areas. This suggests that the government’s awareness initiatives against premature marriages have not been as effective in urban areas compared to rural ones,” stated a senior official from the state health and family welfare department, who preferred to remain anonymous.
He further emphasized the pressing need to identify gaps in the awareness campaigns operating in urban and metropolitan regions.