Salem to Be Child Marriage Free in One Year, Vows ICWO

Buoyed by the Government of India’s pathbreaking 100-Day Intensive Action Plan aimed at uprooting child marriage nationwide, ICWO - Indian Community Welfare Organisation has vowed to work hand in hand with all agencies to declare Salem child marriage free within a year. The ‘100 Days Intensive Awareness Campaign’, launched nationwide to mark one year of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, has outlined a targeted strategy focusing on schools and educational institutions, religious places where marriages are solemnised, marriage-related service providers, and, finally, panchayats and municipal wards to ensure an end of this centuries-old crime against children. ICWO - Indian Community Welfare Organisation is a partner of Just Rights for Children (JRC), India’s largest network of over 250 organisations working to end child marriage in 451 districts. In the last one year alone, the network prevented over one lakh child marriages across the country.

 

To mark one year of ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign launched on 27th November 2024, ICWO - Indian Community Welfare Organisation also conducted awareness programmes across schools, institutions, and village communities, and organised pledge ceremonies throughout the district. The NGO also sensitised communities about the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and explained that anyone from service providers such as caterers, guests, tent providers, faith leaders solemnizing child marriage are liable for punishment. Working with law enforcement agencies and district administration for the last few years, the ICWO - Indian Community Welfare Organisation has already stopped 351 CHILD MARRIAGES from 1^st April 2025 to 27^th November 2025 & 668 CHILD MARRIAGE from 1^st June 2024 to 31^st March 2025 with the total of 1019 CHILD MARRIAGES STOPPED in the last year alone.

 

Enthused by the government’s announcement that will give further impetus to their ongoing drive, NGO Director A.J.Hariharan said, “These 100 days of intensive action have the power to change the course of this country and bring us closer to the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. For generations, our girls have been denied opportunities and pushed into abuse, exploitation and rape in the name of marriage. This unprecedented convergence of elected representatives, government departments, law enforcement, and communities is a game changer in India’s commitment to end child marriage. With this coordination and collective resolve, we are confident that we will make our district child marriage free within a year and there is no veil that can hide this crime anymore.”

 

100-Days Campaign launched in Salem, TamilNadu on 27^th November 2025 by ICWO in partnership JRC during the inauguration program in various schools / institutions 12739 Children participated (Girls – 12181 & Boys – 558) and took oath to STOP child marriage  in India. The 100 days of Intensive Awareness Campaign, divided into three spells, will conclude on 8th March, 2026 which also marks the International Women’s Day. The first spell (till 31st December) will focus on awareness generation through schools, colleges and educational institutes. The second spell, from 1st January 2026 to 31st January 2026, would focus on religious places as well as marriage-related service providers including temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, wedding halls, and band parties. In the third and final spell till 8th March, focus would shift on gram panchayats and municipal wards to strengthen community-level engagement and ownership.