CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER (CCT) SCHEMES AND CHILD MARRIAGES

About: 

• Objective of the study? To see whether the Conditional Cash Transfer schemes introduced in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with the objective of curbing child marriage and helping with marriage expenditure has succeeded in addressing gender inequality. 
  
  
• Schemes covered: TISS, Hyderabad studied the impact of the schemes Kalyana Lakshmi and Shadi Mubarak in Telangana and Chandranna Pelli Kanuka in Andhra Pradesh. 
  
  
• Key Findings of the study: 
  • The CCT schemes became popular as cash is transferred to the accounts of beneficiaries only when the girl is married after attaining the legally valid age of 18 years. 
    
    
  • The features of the schemes in the two States encompass added benefits of legal protection of the marriage as well as ensuring education of girls. 
    
    
  • However, the widely prevalent perception is that the scheme is for extending financial assistance to poor families to meet marriage expenditure rather than driving the message that child marriage should be viewed as a social problem. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Recommendations: 
  • Both Kalyan Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak need to emphasise legal registration of marriage and not simply rely on certificates by religious community leaders. 
    
    
  • Importantly, the schemes should be seen as part of initiatives to combat child marriage and thus linked to programmes meant for empowerment of girls through education and livelihood opportunities.