Correspondent Delhi

The ‘Bal Vivah Mukti Rath’, a unique campaign on wheels that reached 5,22,68,033 people across 28 states, 439 districts and 66,344 villages, culminated on International Women’s Day after travelling 6,79,077 kilometres over the last one month with the message of a child marriage free India. Launched by Just Rights for Children as part of Government of India’s 100 Days Intensive Campaign to End Child Marriage, the campaign saw over 500 Bal Vivah Mukti Rath vehicles traverse the length and breadth of the country, mobilising and sensitizing the communities about the laws against child marriage. Just Rights for Children is the country’s largest network of NGOs working on child protection and child rights, with over 250 partner organisations across India.

The campaign was notable for the unprecedented support it received across the country. Politicians, women survivors, civil society organisations, police personnel and faith leaders came together, cutting across political parties, ideologies, social backgrounds and religions, to strengthen the collective resolve to end child marriage by 2030. Notably, the prevalence of child marriage as per government data from 2019–21 is 23.3 percent, which means almost one in every four girls is married before she turns 18. In its month-long journey, the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath travelled through 66,344 villages, conducted 2,75,622 activities, and roped in 43,984 faith leaders during the process.

The Bal Vivah Mukti Raths were flagged off across states by chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, members of Parliament, district magistrates, and even speakers and deputy speakers of state legislatures. For instance, Chief Ministers Vishnu Deo Sai of Chhattisgarh and Pushkar Singh Dhami of Uttarakhand flagged off the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath in their respective states. Additionally, 49 state ministers, 82 members of Parliament and 154 members of legislative assemblies, apart from 99 district magistrates or district collectors, launched the vehicles in different districts.

Speaking about the resounding success of the campaign and India’s firm stance against child marriage, Jyoti Mathur, Senior Advisor (Policy), Just Rights for Children, said, “This vehicle is more than a symbol. It is a vehicle of justice, carrying the promise of law, protection and accountability to communities so that intent translates into real protection on the ground. The campaign witnessed remarkable enthusiasm and participation from everyone, from top political leaders and administrators to academicians and women survivors. It was particularly encouraging to see women leaders from the grassroots step forward to carry this message ahead. With such participation and urgency in action, we are confident that India will become free from the crime of child marriage well before the global deadline of 2030.”

Referring to a recent report by Columbia University, she added, “It is encouraging to see the world finally acknowledged what we have been saying for over a decade now, that child marriage is child rape and must be treated as such.”

Notably, Just Rights for Children stopped almost 1,98,628 child marriages across the country in the last one year alone through the coordinated efforts of its partners, local administrations, law enforcement agencies, community leaders and other stakeholders such as faith leaders and marriage-related service providers including caterers, tent providers and florists. The network launched the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath to further amplify the Government of India’s 100 Days Intensive Campaign against Child Marriage, marking the one-year anniversary of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat.

Equipped with powerful slogans displayed through posters and loudspeakers, along with pledge-signing boards, the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath was designed to reach the most remote and marginalised communities along its route. While four-wheelers covered routes with better road connectivity, the most remote villages were reached through motorcycle and bicycle caravans across states. During its journey, the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath engaged panchayats, district administrations, CMPOs and other government officials to reach communities with awareness messages and pledges against child marriage. The campaign journey covered schools, gram sabhas, religious institutions and historical sites, spreading the message through 2,75,622 events such as rallies, nukkad nataks, pledge ceremonies, cultural programmes and survivors’ stories. A total of 27,767 religious places and 39,221 schools, colleges and other institutions were covered during the journey.