New Delhi: A recently released census data showed that there are about 6.6 million more wives than husbands, thanks to men who have migrated abroad for work leaving their wives behind. The data also stated that there are a very large number of women in polygamous marriages.
Times of India reported that of the total 1.2 billion population about 580 million (293 million women and 287 million men) were married at the time of the census. This does not include those divorced, widowed or separated.
When it comes to state-wise comparison it shows the migration effect, Kerala has the highest skew with 1.13 married women for every married man. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have this ratio ranges from 1.04 to 1.07.
Whereas states known for high influx of migrant labour, like Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi, have more married men than women.
More than 18 lakh girls under the age of 15 were married in the census year 2011. The data further stated that more than 4.5 lakh girls had also witnessed child birth at the time of the census with about 3 lakh having two kids.
Shockingly, of the total 7.8 lakh children born to married girls below 15-year of age, data claimed, about 56,000 had already died.
Rajasthan had the highest proportion of girls aged 10-14 married. Of 40 lakh girls of this age, over 4 per cent were married. Rajasthan was followed by Maharashtra, Goa and Gujarat.
