February 15, 2025

One evening, a glance at “Times of India” captured my attention to “Over 33,000 teen pregnancies in Karnataka over the past three years”, a shock to me, a mother and grandmother. Bangalore Urban reports most teen pregnancies followed by Vijayanagar, Ballari, Belagavi and Mysore. Of course, we are in a society today where abuse and exploitation are exposed. But in modern society, where we measure progress and development, can we accept this figure of teen pregnancies in a single state? What about the bigger picture? Where are we heading to? What is the responsibility of parents and teachers? Time to reflect, time to analyse, time to discover where we have gone wrong. With so much exposure to the internet and the social media, aren’t our teenagers exposed to prevention of intended pregnancies? Are they that ignorant or careless or undermining the importance of moral fabric? Can we, elders, be complacent and ignore the problem?

India is home to 11% of all teenage pregnancies worldwide. This equals 16 million women between the ages of 15 - 19 giving birth to children annually. The rate of early marriage in India is among the highest in the world. A third of all young women or 27% of girls in India are believed to get married before turning 18 according to the most recent National Family Health Survey.

Teenage pregnancy and motherhood are serious medical and social concerns. The problems associated are far more serious if pregnancy is the result of rape and abuse. These pregnancies give rise to so many complications like pregnancy induced hypertension, diabetes, infections, endometritis and even threat to life.

Babies born to teen mothers are also found to be at a greater risk. In developing countries like India, complications from pregnancy and childbirth are the leading causes of death among girls aged between 15 and 19 years.

Can we parents, teachers and elders turn a blind eye to this grave problem? It is our responsibility to minimize the complications associated with teen marriages and pregnancies. More than 40% of world’s child marriages take place in India. Over half of the girls and women who marry in childhood live in U.P, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. Child marriage is violation of human rights. Poverty strengthens the belief that marriage will provide protection, family honour. Social norms and religious beliefs lead to child marriage and teen pregnancies. Worse is the situation if a teenager becomes a mother because of

rape and oppression. Due to social pressures and fear of stigma, many cases of rape and related pregnancies go unreported.

If some slow progress has to take place in the right direction, some measures have to be introduced. It is educating the parents and children. Parents who have the privilege to protect children often turn into enemies marrying their children before they are adults. Teachers too, have great responsibility to train both boys and girls. According to Malala Yusuf, the youngest Noble Prize Awardee, “One book, One Pen, One teacher can change the world.”

Sex education should start from home. As the children grow into adolescents, parents have to talk about sexual changes to the children. In Indian households, sharing experiences with children is very rare. Sex and education about sex is taboo, not to be discussed. Even educated parents hesitate to share the facts of life with children. “Teachers are the right people to impart sex education to adolescent boys and girls. Boys should be educated to respect girls, to stand on their own feet and not hurry to marry at the earliest because of parental pressure. It is the girls who should be motivated to be independent, to have a job after completion of studies and then assume responsibility of building a family. Aung San Suu Kyi, the maker of modern Myanmar comments, “The education and empowerment of women throughout the world cannot fail to result in a more caring, tolerant, just and peaceful life for all.” A mother can make all the difference with her education to raise confident sons and daughters who can contribute towards a healthy society.

In India, a very depressing fact is our legislative, social and religious practices. Our leaders, our legislation and our judiciary often fail to prevent child marriage and protect women. They fail in justice to rape victims and the resulted pregnancy and childbirth. In North Indian states, the bias is towards male children and male adolescents. A girl is still a mere instrument to satisfy the male, produce children and please his family members. With such little freedom, can she be confident?

Therefore the need of the hour is to empower girl children with education and encouragement. A girl should be empowered with techniques to protect herself. Isn’t it high time now for parents to instill the courage in female children to express themselves? Unless the societal structure undergoes changes, child

marriages and teen pregnancies will continue. Can we elders, pat our backs and say we live in modern society and we have created a beautiful world for our children to live in? Definitely not. It is our failure.

Finally to conclude with the beautiful quote of Michelle Obama, “The ability to read, write and analyse, the confidence to stand up and demand justice and equality, the qualifications and connections to get your foot in the door and take your seat at the table - all of that starts with education.”

Can we dream of a better India with less teen pregnancies, child marriages and less abuse and exploitation of women in the years to come? I hope for the best.

“Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, Into that haven of freedom, my father, Let my country awake.” - Rabindranath Tagore