A Collective Commitment to End Child Marriage
Child marriage remains one of the most persistent violations of children’s human rights in India. It deprives children—especially girls—of education, health, dignity, and the freedom to choose their own futures. Ending this harmful practice requires sustained efforts from government institutions, civil society organizations, and community members working together.
Taking a pledge against child marriage is not just a symbolic act; it is a reaffirmation of our collective responsibility to protect childhood and uphold human rights.
A Significant Step by the Varanasi Administration
In an important move towards realizing the vision of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, the Varanasi District Administration has constituted a District Child Marriage Free India Steering Committee. This committee brings together key government departments—including administration, police, education, health, and women & child welfare—along with child protection units and civil society organizations.
The formation of this committee recognizes that child marriage cannot be eliminated by government action alone. It requires close coordination with grassroots organizations that work directly with communities, identify risks early, and support prevention and protection mechanisms.
(Details of the initiative can be read here: https://pvchr.blogspot.com/2025/12/varanasi-administration-forms-district.html)
Grassroots Leadership: The Role of PVCHR and Jan Mitra Nyas
For decades, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) have played a crucial role in advancing human rights and social justice in eastern Uttar Pradesh and beyond. Co-founded by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and Shruti Nagvanshi, these organizations have consistently worked with marginalized communities to challenge structural inequalities rooted in caste, poverty, and patriarchy.
In the context of child marriage, PVCHR and JMN have focused on:
Community-based vigilance and early warning systems to prevent planned child marriages
Strengthening Village Child Protection Committees and Bal Mitra Committees
Awareness campaigns on the legal age of marriage, health risks, and gender equality
Supporting families and children to access education and social protection schemes
Coordinating with local authorities to report and stop child marriage cases
Their work demonstrates that sustainable change is possible when communities are empowered with knowledge, confidence, and institutional support.
Child Marriage: A Human Rights Issue
Child marriage is not merely a social custom—it is a violation of multiple human rights, including the rights to education, health, protection, and personal liberty. It disproportionately affects girls from marginalized communities and reinforces cycles of poverty, violence, and exclusion.
Addressing child marriage therefore requires a rights-based approach that tackles its root causes while ensuring accountability, protection, and rehabilitation for affected children.
Moving Forward Together
The pledge against child marriage, the formation of the district-level steering committee, and the long-standing grassroots work of organizations like PVCHR and JMN together represent a shared commitment to safeguarding children’s futures.
To build a Child Marriage Free India, we must:
Strengthen collaboration between government and civil society
Invest in education and awareness at the community level
Ensure prompt action and protection when child marriage risks are identified
Center the voices and rights of children in all interventions
Ending child marriage is possible—when communities, institutions, and individuals act together with determination and compassion.
Together, we can ensure that every child grows up free, educated, and with dignity.
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