NGO claims child marriage campaign reached 8.5 lakh people in Gujarat

By A Representative

The NGO Just Rights for Children has claimed that its campaign, the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath, reached more than 8.5 lakh people across 2,000 villages in Gujarat during a month-long journey that culminated on International Women’s Day. According to the organisation, the campaign covered 25,108 kilometres and organised 2,827 events, including rallies, cultural programmes, pledge ceremonies and survivor testimonies, with participation from over 1.12 lakh students and teachers and more than 500 faith leaders.

The initiative was part of the Government of India’s 100 Days Intensive Campaign to End Child Marriage, under which 500 similar vehicles travelled across the country. The NGO stated that the campaign drew support from politicians, civil society organisations, police personnel and faith leaders, who came together to strengthen efforts to eliminate child marriage by 2030.

Citing government data from 2019–21, the organisation noted that child marriage prevalence in Gujarat stands at 21.8 percent, lower than the national average of 23.3 percent, but with significant district-level disparities. It further claimed that across India, the campaign reached over 5.22 crore people in 66,344 villages, with vehicles launched by chief ministers, ministers, MPs, MLAs and district officials.

Jyoti Mathur, Senior Advisor (Policy) at Just Rights for Children, described the campaign -- in which very few females participated -- as “a vehicle of justice, carrying the promise of law, protection and accountability to communities.” She said the participation of grassroots women leaders was particularly encouraging and expressed confidence that India could end child marriage before the global deadline of 2030. Referring to a Columbia University report, she added that child marriage should be recognised as child rape.

The NGO also claimed that in the past year, it stopped 3,321 child marriages in Gujarat through coordinated efforts with local administrations, law enforcement agencies, community leaders and service providers. It said the campaign used posters, loudspeakers, pledge boards and caravans to reach remote communities, engaging panchayats and government officials to spread awareness.

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