Thousands of people across West Bengal have rallied in support of the ‘Bal VivahMukt Bharat’ campaign, an initiative launched by the Government of India to combat child marriage. Programs organized by the Just Rights for Children (JRC) alliance saw enthusiastic participation from a diverse range of participants, including child marriage survivors, police officers, teachers, parents, and village leaders. The awareness campaigns spanned 23 districts, reaching over 4700 villages, where foot marches, candlelight vigils, and roadshows highlighted the importance of ending child marriage.
The JRC alliance, which consists of over 250 NGOs working across 400 districts in India, has been instrumental in preventing more than 2,50,000 child marriages nationwide. The alliance has partnered with local authorities and community leaders to push for stricter measures and greater public awareness in West Bengal. Participants in the campaigns took pledges to prevent child marriages in their communities and report such cases to authorities.
In Kolkata, the campaign has garnered significant attention, with residents of various markets and localities actively engaging in the cause. The city’s residents, especially in the bustling markets, have shown increasing awareness, emphasizing a cultural shift against child marriage. The participation in Kolkata highlights the city’s potential as a key player in spreading the message across the state. The campaign was formally launched by Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Annpurna Devi, on November 27 in New Delhi. As the movement gains momentum, JRC aims to extend its outreach to every village and block in West Bengal, further strengthening efforts to eliminate child marriage and protect the rights of girls.