Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi launched a ‘100-day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat’ on Thursday in New Delhi. The Minister stated child marriage removes childhood, leading to early maternity and suffering. She called for zero tolerance towards the practice across India.
Call for Unified Action
Minister Devi urged states, civil society groups, and community leaders to unite and eliminate child marriage. She acknowledged India’s progress but stressed more work remains. “Even one child marriage is unacceptable for us,” she said.
Devi referenced legal developments from the Sarda Act, 1929, to the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. She noted legal frameworks strengthened, but harmful social norms persist. Child marriage violates law, takes childhood, and pushes girls into early motherhood and suffering.
Government Initiatives and Progress
Government initiatives like ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ show improvements. The country sees rising sex ratios and higher enrollment of girls in secondary and higher education. Minister Devi highlighted girls’ achievements in sports, defence, mining, and space.
Awareness Campaign for Child Marriage-Free Bharat
The ‘100-day Intensive Awareness Campaign’ runs from November 27 to March 8 . It includes school competitions, community awareness drives, engagement with faith leaders, and mobilization of local bodies. Panchayats and municipal wards will pass resolutions declaring their areas child-marriage-free.
Grassroots NGOs shared stories of successful interventions. Community counselling, school programs, and door-to-door campaigns prevented dozens of child marriages. Families now approach Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) directly for help against community pressure.
Laws Alone Not Enough
Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development, stated laws alone cannot eradicate child marriage. He called it a “crime against humanity.” Two decades ago, approximately 47% of marriages in India involved minors. This figure has significantly fallen, according to recent Sample Registration System data.
Malik emphasized awareness, reporting, and collective action. He urged citizens to inform a CMPO if unable to intervene directly. Over 38,000 CMPOs are registered on a national portal. This portal is available in 22 languages and allows citizens to report violations or take a digital pledge.
Last year, more than 22 lakh individuals and organizations interacted with the portal. Over 50,000 people formally pledged to prevent child marriage. The campaign uses a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, coordinating with Health, Education, Panchayati Raj, and Rural Development Ministries.
Champions of Change
Minister Devi highlighted young champions inspiring change. Roshni Parveen from Bihar, a child marriage survivor, has rescued many girls. Shilu from Odisha, a chemical engineering student, actively works to stop underage marriages. Jyotsana Akhtar from Tripura persuaded her village to oppose the practice collectively.
The Surajpur district in Chhattisgarh reported no child marriages in 75 panchayats for two consecutive years. “If one district can achieve this, the entire nation can become child marriage free,” Minister Devi said.
The movement against child marriage will continue beyond the campaign’s ceremonial conclusion on International Women’s Day next year.