India can save $5 bn in healthcare by ending child marriage, early birth

As many as 280,000 married girls between ages 15 and 19 have already given birth to four children

Over the next seven years, India could save $5 billion (Rs 33,500 crore) in healthcare and related costs if it eliminates child marriage and early childbirth, according to a new report by the World Bank and International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), a global research institute.

For perspective, this is equivalent to the country’s 2017-18 higher education budget of Rs 33,329 crore.

Globally, $17 billion (Rs 1.14 lakh crore) could be saved across 18 countries by 2030–of which India accounts for $10 billion (62%) due