A country establishes laws to enumerate various rules and regulations with provisions of penalty and punishments for breaching them. When a country draws laws to punish the guilty, it certainly acknowledges that crimes are being committed and there is a need to fight back in some capacity against these violations.
Presently, the bill to raise the legal marriage age for girls in India is a hot bed of discussion. Considering the fact that despite the present age being as low as 18, parents still marry off their daughters before this age in order to prevent their sexual assault or molestation. What is more bewildering is the fact that this reason is a pretty conclusive one as it is further propagated that an unmarried girl is prone to assault and further discrimination. But going by this logic, if a girl is married at the age of 15, what safeguards her rights especially when her suitor is absent? What gurantees that a married girl is immune to any sort of harassment or assault?
If people are determined to violate the laws they are going to do so no matter what. So why a law to increase this age cap is introduced in such a haste? Perhaps, to provide a fair chance to women who do not want to get married before the age of 21 and thus pursue their primary, secondary or undergraduate level of education without any obligation of marital duties.
So, why is it so hard for the educated and enlightened clan to accept that such a law provides a safeguard to women who want to fight back against the injustice they are subjected to endure. Thus, making the choice to fight back against injustice is the second and most crucial step to empowerment.