Reaffirming the Government of India’s commitment to end child marriage, Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said the Centre, in partnership with civil society organisations, is working towards achieving a Child Marriage-Free India by 2030.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the four-day national consultation, “Ensuring Child Rights, Potential and Prosperity,” organised by Just Rights for Children at the Constitution Club in New Delhi, the Minister underscored the critical role of grassroots organisations in protecting children from exploitation, trafficking, child marriage and abuse.
The consultation has brought together representatives of more than 250 partner organisations from across the country, collectively working in all 782 districts of India to strengthen child protection systems and advance children’s rights.
Addressing the delegates, Thakur described child protection as one of the country’s most demanding responsibilities and praised frontline workers for rescuing children from exploitation.
“Saving even one child’s life is among the noblest acts. Many young girls become victims of trafficking and never find their way back home. These children wait for someone to rescue them, and the volunteers of NGOs who rescue them from sexual exploitation are nothing short of angels,” she said.
The Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made the elimination of child marriage by 2030 a national priority and that multiple initiatives are being implemented under the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign to achieve this goal.
Commending the work of Just Rights for Children, she said, “The contribution of Just Rights for Children towards realising the dream of a Child Marriage-Free India will remain unforgettable.”
Speaking at the event, Lavu Krishna Devarayalu, Convener of MPs for Children and Parliamentary Party Leader of the Telugu Desam Party in the Lok Sabha, said India’s campaign against child marriage has emerged as a model for the world.
“This is an extraordinary movement. India has demonstrated that ending child marriage is possible, and the campaign initiated by Just Rights for Children is now inspiring action beyond our borders,” he said.
Highlighting the need to address emerging threats to children, Devarayalu also referred to his Private Member’s Bill introduced in Parliament, which seeks to strengthen safeguards for children against the risks posed by social media.
“What began as a spark on 27 November 2024 with the launch of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat has today become a nationwide movement. The movement has since evolved into a broader vision of empowering every child through justice, technology, leadership, and collective action. India is demonstrating that when governments, civil society, academia, communities, and young people unite behind a common purpose, change is inevitable. This is no longer just India’s story; it is India’s message to the world that investing in children is the most important investment any nation can make,” said Bhuwan Ribhu, Founder, Just Rights for Children.
He added, “Every time we stop a child marriage in a village, we do more than protect one child. We send a clear message to the entire community that child marriage is a crime that has no place in a modern society. Over the last three years, together, we have prevented more than 5.5 lakh child marriages.”
