Sudurpaschim spends millions to fight child marriage, yet the practice persists

Nepal considers marriage before age 20 illegal. The law treats it as child marriage, regardless of whether the marriage is arranged by families or entered into by adolescents themselves. This matters because early marriage can end education, create health risks and expose young people to abuse and financial dependence.

Section 173 of the National Penal (Code) Act, 2017, makes child marriage a criminal offence. It declares such marriages void and allows up to three years in prison and a fine of up to Rs30,000. The law therefore sets 20 as the minimum legal marriage age.

Yet the law has not ended the practice. The 2021 census found that 29.1 percent of marriages in Sudurpaschim involved child marriage. Only 36 cases were registered with police between fiscal years 2020-21 and 2025-26, showing that legality alone does not guarantee protection.

Sudurpaschim spent Rs12.87 million on child-marriage prevention programmes over five years. The spending shows repeated government attention, but the practice remains widespread. The 2021 national census found that 29.1 percent of marriages in the province involved child marriage.

The problem varied across districts. Bajhang recorded the highest prevalence, at 34.1 percent, followed by Darchula at 33.4 percent. The census also recorded 29.4 percent in both Doti and Kailali. These figures describe a broad social pattern, not just isolated incidents reported to authorities.

Police registered only 36 child-marriage cases across the province between fiscal years 2020-21 and 2025-26. Kailali recorded nine and Kanchanpur seven. The contrast between 29.1 percent in census data and 36 police cases suggests that prevention work has not matched the scale of the practice, while reporting remains limited.

Police figures capture reported cases, not every child marriage. In Sudurpaschim, many marriages remain within families and communities, so relatives, neighbours or others do not inform authorities. This makes the official case count far smaller than the practice’s actual spread.

Police spokesperson Padam Bahadur Bista said cases were more likely to be reported when couples came from different castes or married without parental consent. He also said only a small proportion came to authorities’ attention. This means reporting can depend on family and community reactions rather than the age of those married.

The gap is clear. Police registered 36 cases from fiscal years 2020-21 to 2025-26, but the 2021 census found that 29.1 percent of marriages in the province involved child marriage. The figures show why stronger community reporting and better monitoring are needed to reveal the full scale.

The Sudurpaschim provincial government has allocated funds for child-marriage prevention campaigns year after year. These programmes are intended to raise awareness and discourage early marriage. Police have also conducted awareness programmes, while provincial and local governments and the National Human Rights Commission have made prevention efforts.

However, the province has never assessed the impact of its programmes. Without an evaluation, officials cannot show whether campaigns changed attitudes, reduced marriages or improved reporting. Spending alone does not reveal whether prevention activities reached families and communities where the practice persists.

The lack of assessment matters because child marriage remains widespread. The 2021 census found a 29.1 percent prevalence in Sudurpaschim, while police recorded only 36 cases over five fiscal years. Future efforts need continued monitoring and evidence about which campaigns reach adolescents, families and community members.

Child marriage can narrow a girl’s choices before she is ready for adult responsibilities. It may interrupt schooling, prevent financial independence and tie her survival to relatives or a husband. The consequences can continue for years through unpaid household work, childcare and dependence on others.

One woman from Doti married before 17 while in Grade 11. She completed Grade 12 but had two children, an unemployed husband and financial dependence on relatives. Another married at 15 and became a mother of three by 22. Repeated pregnancies left her physically weak, while she also faced household burdens and abuse.

These experiences show how early marriage affects education, health, income and safety together. Girls may face physical and psychological abuse, while boys can leave school and migrate for work. The article’s cases show that marriage does not automatically bring the education or support promised beforehand.

Adolescents are better able to avoid early marriage when they can remain in school, plan for work and access trusted support. Education can preserve future choices, while a route to income can reduce dependence on family decisions. Support from relatives, teachers, community groups and public services can also help young people speak up safely.

The article gives a clear example. A woman from Doti asked to finish school before marrying, but her family refused. Her prospective in-laws promised to support her education, yet that promise was not kept. She completed Grade 12 despite pressure, but later depended on relatives because her husband was unemployed.

Practical prevention therefore needs more than awareness slogans. Families and communities must support continued schooling, listen to adolescents and report planned child marriages. Provincial and local governments, police and the National Human Rights Commission already conduct prevention efforts, but stronger support and follow-up are needed.

Child marriage persists when legal rules collide with poverty, family pressure and gender expectations. Girls may be pushed away from education and toward household roles. Boys may be expected to earn money and support families. These pressures can make early marriage appear easier than continuing school, especially where families lack resources.

The article describes a Doti girl whose family refused her request to finish school. Another girl married at 15 and later carried repeated pregnancies, household work and abuse. Boys also face pressure: some leave school and migrate to India for work while still young. These examples show how family decisions and economic demands affect both sexes.

Weak community reporting allows the practice to continue. Police spokesperson Padam Bahadur Bista said people do not inform police when they witness child marriage. Although Nepal criminalises it, silence, community acceptance and limited accountability reduce the law’s practical effect.