Assam witnessed a massive wave of support for the Central Government’s Bal VivahMukt Bharat campaign, with thousands participating in programs organized by the Just Rights for Children (JRC) alliance. Spanning 28 districts and 3,900 villages, the events featured awareness drives, candlelight marches, and pledges to combat child marriage. Participants included police officers, teachers, parents, village leaders, and survivors of child marriage.
The JRC alliance, a network of over 250 NGOs working for child rights across India, has prevented 2.5 lakh child marriages nationwide through its legal and grassroots interventions. In Assam, the alliance collaborates with state authorities to tackle the issue, where 31.8% of women aged 20-24 were married before 18, as reported by NFHS-5. In Guwahati, the campaign resonated strongly, with schools buzzing with awareness activities. The urban population joined hands with grassroots workers to spread the campaign’s message, emphasizing the economic and social impact of ending child marriage, particularly for young girls’ education and workforce participation.
JRC founder BhuwanRibhu emphasized the need for collaborative efforts, stating, “We must foster a culture of prevention, protection, and prosecution to drive lasting behavioral change.” The campaign, launched by Union Minister Annpurna Devi in New Delhi, aims to reach 25 crore citizens. With a dedicated portal for reporting child marriages, Assam is poised to make significant strides in eradicating this social evil.