Government’s proposal to lower the age of consent for consensual sex faces opposition from both right and left. The RSS on Monday described the measure as “socially unacceptable” and threatened to oppose it.
The CPI too sang similar tune, suggesting such move will encourage child marriage and open a Pandora’s Box of social anomalies like trafficking of children. The proposal of lowering the age of consent from 18 to 16 is part of the Criminal law Amendment Bill, 2013.
“The age for marriage for a girl is 18 but Government wants to give legal consent for sexual relations before marriage by lowering the age to 16. It is not acceptable and RSS will oppose it,” RSS leader Bhaiyaji Joshi said in Jaipur. He was talking to reporters upon the conclusion of a three-day meeting of Akhil Bhartiya Pratinidhi Sabha of the RSS.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh opposing the move. “This decision will destroy the social system of the country,” the CM wrote in his letter. He accused that Centre’s proposal was outcome of its complete lack of connect with the society and thoughts originating from Metro cities. “I would request you to reconsider this decision,” he demanded.
A resolution adopted by the CPI’s National Council meeting here reads, “We differ from this position as we need to see the consequences of such a law. First, the minimum age for marriage for girls is 18 years and for boys 21. If age of consent is reduced to 16, it will encourage child marriage, which is still a problem in India.”
CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy said child marriage and teenage pregnancy have added to the high rate of maternal and infant mortality. “We need to prevent child birth before the bride attains the age...So when the legal age of marriage is 18, it is clearly contradictory to have the age of consent at 16,” the party said.
“This will open up a pandora’s box of social anomalies. Trafficking of children which in itself is a major problem will increase. ...In context of the alarming spread of HIV/AIDS, this lowering of age of sexual consent will give a further fillip to this phenomenon,” the CPI said.
The party also said that there are so many problems facing adolescent children —lack of proper education, absence of nutritious diet, malnourishment and most importantly zero level of sex-education. “In this situation, National Council of CPI considers that the status quo in this regard should be maintained,” the resolution said.