Biryani and mutton may still be on the menu, but so is a serving of jail time. Attending a minor’s wedding is no longer merely a questionable moral choice—it could now earn you a government-sponsored stay behind bars, topped off with a hefty fine.
The old excuse of “I didn’t know it was a child marriage—I just went to bless the couple and enjoy the food” won’t suffice anymore. Under the Prevention of Child Marriage Act, 2006, even guests—yes, the ones clapping during the pheras and digging into the reception feast—can now face legal consequences. You may be an invitee, but legally, you’ll be treated as an abettor.
And the net is cast wide. Priests solemnising the rituals, the parents giving away the bride, in-laws accepting her, and nosy neighbours who said nothing—all risk legal heat now.
The Department of Women, Child and Social Welfare is leaving no loophole unstitched. Just two days ago, fresh instructions were issued to district administrators to ensure every level of the wedding ecosystem—from the canopy decorators to the distant chacha munching on kebabs—is placed under scrutiny.
But the crackdown isn’t all stick. The state government’s Kanyashree scheme, a flagship initiative to empower girls and keep them in school, continues to form the backbone of the prevention drive. Districts such as Purba Burdwan and Birbhum are even roping in private detectives to sniff out underage nuptials being planned under the radar—or in some cases, in blaring public view.
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Yes, authorities report that many child marriages are no longer held in secrecy. “Sometimes it's all band, baaja, and underage bride,” an official quipped. The audacity of such public affairs has jolted the administration into intensifying both legal action and awareness campaigns.
Soon, local streets will be dotted with striking hoardings—not featuring smiling couples, but stern warnings. These posters will not only highlight punishments under the law but also outline the irreversible damage child marriage inflicts on young lives.
“Relatives and neighbours often turn a blind eye,” said a senior official, adding, “Instead of stopping the wedding, they’re lining up for second servings. This has to stop.” If awareness fails, he confirmed, action will follow—swift and strict.
Among social thinkers and child rights activists, the response is largely positive. “For long, child marriage has been an open secret—tolerated, excused, even romanticised. Now, fear might just succeed where moral appeals have failed,” said a child protection expert.
So next time you receive a wedding card and the bride looks a little too school-uniform-ready, think twice before RSVPing. Or at least check the birth certificate—because one wrong bite of biryani, and the only thing you’ll be cutting is a cake in cell block C.
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