New Delhi: In a decisive move towards eliminating child marriage and empowering young girls, the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, launched the national campaign "Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat" in New Delhi. The event was attended by Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Savitri Thakur, along with several officials and stakeholders committed to the cause.
The campaign includes the launch of the Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal, a digital platform designed to enable citizens to report child marriage cases, file complaints, and access details of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers across the country. This initiative aims to strengthen the enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, by making the reporting process more accessible.
In her address, the Minister highlighted advancements in women's empowerment, noting the improvement in the sex ratio at birth from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24. She stressed the importance of educating and protecting girls, emphasising that child marriages involving girls under 18 and boys under 21 are strictly prohibited under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The penalties for violations, she said, are severe. The Minister also pointed to the success of preventing over 100,000 child marriages in the past year and acknowledged global recognition from the United Nations for India’s efforts in reducing child marriage rates.
The campaign aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, which prioritises gender equality and girls' education. Annapurna Devi stated that the campaign is a mission to ensure every girl in India receives the education, health care, and protection she deserves. As the nation moves towards the vision of a developed India by 2047, the campaign aims to inspire collective action to eradicate child marriage.
The launch coincided with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global movement observed from 25 November to 10 December. Building on flagship initiatives such as Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, the campaign seeks to galvanise nationwide efforts against child marriage.
Minister of State Savitri Thakur acknowledged the role of programmes like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana in raising awareness about girls' education and empowerment. She stressed the need for coordinated efforts by governments, social organisations, and citizens to achieve the campaign’s goals.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Anil Malik, highlighted the critical importance of implementing the Child Marriage Act to eliminate this human rights violation. He noted that empowering women is essential for societal progress and development.
The event featured inspiring stories of individuals who have actively opposed child marriage. These included young girls and community leaders from across the country who shared their journeys of resilience and advocacy. Their efforts underscore the transformative power of education and awareness in combating this practice.
The campaign received widespread participation, with nearly 150 district collectors, officials, NGOs, panchayats, schools, and local bodies attending the launch. The event was streamed live on the Ministry's YouTube channel, garnering over 82,000 viewers. Additionally, more than five million people joined an online pledge against child marriage, demonstrating collective resolve to end this social evil.
BI Bureau
