Wed Nov 27 15:44:54 UTC 2024: ## India Launches Nationwide Campaign to Eradicate Child Marriage
**New Delhi, November 27, 2024** – The Indian government launched a nationwide campaign, “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan” (Child Marriage-Free India Campaign), aiming to eliminate child marriage by 2029. Union Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi announced the initiative, citing a significant reduction in child marriages from 47.4% to 23.3% between 2019 and 2021, thanks to the Prevention of Child Marriage Act of 2006.
Despite this progress, the Minister stressed the need for continued efforts, noting that one in five girls is still married before the legal age of 18. The campaign will focus on seven high-burden states – West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh – and nearly 300 high-risk districts. The goal is to reduce child marriage rates to below 5% by 2029.
A key element of the campaign is a new online portal, “Child Marriage Free Bharat,” designed to raise awareness, facilitate reporting of cases, and monitor progress. The Minister emphasized a multi-pronged approach, combining legal measures with awareness campaigns and addressing underlying social and economic factors contributing to the practice. This includes initiatives focusing on girls’ education, skill development, employment opportunities, nutritional improvements, women’s health, safety, and social protection. Minister Devi called for active public participation to achieve a child marriage-free India.
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