India Targets Child Marriage Eradication by 2030: Government and NGOs Unite for Action

Emphasizing that faith leaders of all religions and civil society organizations should step forward to join the efforts of the government and make India child marriage free by 2030, Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar has said India has the potential to end this evil practice as the country has successfully abolished numerous regressive practices in the past. The minister was speaking at a training workshop of child rights activists, organized by Association for Voluntary Action (AVA). AVA is a partner of Just Rights for Children, a network of over 250 NGOs working in 416 districts across the country for child protection and child rights.

“We are a nation where nothing is impossible once we set our minds to it. We have abolished regressive practices, including Sati Pratha. This gives us the confidence that child marriage will also be eradicated. Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, our government is continuously striving to fulfill the vision of a Child Marriage-Free Bharat and overall child welfare,” said Dr Virendra Kumar, while addressing child rights activists who attended a 4-day training programme organized by the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA) in New Delhi.

JRC’s partner, AVA, recently partnered with NITI Aayog to advance children's empowerment, education, and protection in 73 aspirational districts and declare 15,000 villages in 104 blocks in 12 states ‘Child Marriage Free’. JRC is a network of over 250 NGOs working in 416 districts in 28 states and UTs for child protection and child rights. AVA is the country’s pioneer grassroots organization working relentlessly for children by rescuing them from trafficking and labour.

In order to make the mission of ending child marriage in the country successful, Dr Virendra Kumar stressed that a vigilant society backed by voluntary organizations with religious leaders and heads of all faiths must rise above their beliefs and traditions to work with complete commitment and determination to make Child Marriage Free India by 2030 a reality.

Addressing the activists and district coordinators from across the country, founder of Just Rights for Children and child rights activist Mr Bhuwan Ribhu said that AVA’s collaboration with NITI Aayog could be the tipping point of the end of child marriage, child labour and child trafficking.

"India is well on its path to becoming the Vishwa Guru, a global champion of the rights of the vulnerable, and there is immense responsibility on our shoulders as the entire world watches us. This collaboration could become a milestone and a tipping point in ending child marriage and child trafficking if we successfully connect each child to government welfare schemes and education. A Child Marriage-Free India is not just a possibility but an inevitability. The cycle of prevention before protection and prosecution—which also leads back to prevention—must be completed for a child marriage free India by 2030," said Mr. Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children, adding that micro-level impact is shaping macro-level policy, and macro policies are now reaching children on the ground.