Bihar begins campaign against child marriage, dowry

Patna, Oct 2: A massive campaign against child marriage and dowry was launched in Bihar on Monday, officials said.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar launched the statewide campaign at the newly built Bapu Sabhagar here on the sidelines of Mahatma Gandhi's 148th birth anniversary celebrations.

Child marriage is rampant in Bihar, particularly in rural areas, despite laws against it.

Till a few years ago, Bihar accounted for 69 per cent of child marriages of total marriages.

But the latest National Family Health Survey-4 revealed that the figure has declined in the last 10 years due to increase of education among girls.