New Delhi: In a landmark initiative aimed at eradicating child marriage and empowering young girls, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, launched the national campaign “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” in New Delhi today. Accompanying the launch was the inauguration of the Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal, an innovative platform enabling citizens to report incidents, file complaints, and access information about Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) nationwide.
In her keynote address, Annapurna Devi highlighted India’s progress in women’s empowerment, noting an improvement in the sex ratio at birth from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24. She reaffirmed the government’s strict enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, under which marriages involving girls under 18 and boys under 21 are prohibited. The Minister acknowledged India’s contribution to the global reduction in child marriage rates, with the United Nations recognizing the prevention of over one lakh child marriages last year.
“Our daughters deserve education, health, and protection to achieve their dreams,” said the Minister, emphasizing the government’s mission to align with Viksit Bharat 2047. She reiterated the importance of gender equality in education as outlined in the National Education Policy 2020 and urged collective action against child marriage.
The event coincided with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global campaign from November 25 to December 10. Building on the success of initiatives like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, the campaign seeks to inspire nationwide participation in creating a child marriage-free India.
Stories of Courage and Advocacy
The event featured inspiring stories of individuals who have championed the fight against child marriage:
- Bucha Ramanamma (Andhra Pradesh): Halted her own marriage at 14 and is now an engineer earning ₹6 lakhs annually.
- Majji Ramya (Andhra Pradesh): Resisted family pressure and continues her education, inspiring resilience.
- Durga (Bihar): Prevented her sister’s marriage using her legal awareness.
- Roshni Perween (Bihar): A survivor turned activist, she co-founded the Janta Express Welfare Foundation and has rescued 60 girls from child marriage.
- Namrata Pandurang (Maharashtra): Stopped her own child marriage and now runs her own business.
- C. Lalnunfela (Mizoram): Prevents child marriages through community collaborations.
- Silu Pradhan (Odisha): Pursuing a diploma in chemical engineering while actively working to stop child marriages.
- Kumari Jyotsna Akhter (Tripura): Inspired her village to pledge against child marriages, earning the Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar 2024.
Minister of State Savitri Thakur emphasized the need for collaboration among governments, NGOs, and citizens to achieve the campaign’s goals. Anil Malik, Secretary of the Ministry, reinforced the importance of enforcing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act to address this violation of human rights and obstacle to women’s empowerment.
Nearly 150 district collectors, local officials, NGOs, and community leaders attended the event, which was live-streamed to over 82,000 viewers. Over five million individuals participated online in a pledge-taking ceremony against child marriage.
The Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign is a clarion call for collective action, aiming to ensure that every girl in India is educated, safe, and empowered to build a brighter future.