India, World's Child Marriage Capital

Even while this evil practice of child marriage is followed all over the country, the highest rates are seen particularly in the rural states of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.

Anne Stenhammer, regional programme director of UN Women was quoted saying to TOI "Child marriage is a fundamental human rights violation and impacts all aspects of a girl's life. We want to alert and raise awareness on the negative effects of child marriage on girls and the society as a whole."

Stenhammer added that "(Prevention of) child marriage is part of the agenda of the programme and of the mahila sabhas. Not just women, panchayats, society, community and the family must be involved to check child marriage."

Further, the UN Women is conducting a programme to encourage women's political leadership and governance in 16 districts in five states of India, namely Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, she said. The programme will help equip over half a million elected women representatives with knowledge and skills to partake in local governance.

Also Read: 3 Million Girls in India Gone Missing In a Decade