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."
For more information
contact Jitendra Parmar on 8595950825
