India Launches 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat' Campaign Against Child Marriage

On 27 November 2024, the government of India launched the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign to eradicate the social evil of child marriage. The government also unveiled the Child Marriage Free Bharat portal to support the campaign.

The Campaign will be supervised by the Union Ministry of Child and Women Development. According to the government, it will continue until the social evil of child marriage is eradicated from the country.

Who launched the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign?

The 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign was launched by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi in New Delhi on 27 November 2024.

The minister also unveiled the 'Child Marriage Free Bharat' portal.

The portal will support the campaign's mission by raising public awareness against child marriage, preventing child marriage, and reporting incidents of child marriage. 

Focus of the Campaign 

The campaign will focus on 130 districts of the country where the incidence of child marriage is very high. It will involve the concerned central and state government departments, district Child Marriage Prohibition Officers, civil society members and organisations and the media. 

Status of Child Marriage in India 

Parliament has enacted the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 to prohibit child marriage, protect and provide relief to victims and enhance punishment for those who abet, promote or solemnise such marriage.

The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006 replaced the  Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929.

According to the 2006 Act, child marriage refers to a marriage where the age of the groom (male) is less than 21 years or the age of the bride (girl) is less than 18 years.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-5, the status of Child marriage in India is as follows:

• The percentage of girls getting married before age 18 declined from 47 per cent in 2005-06 to 27 per cent in 2015-2016.
• This means that 1 out of 5 girls get married before the age of 18.
• The maximum prevalence of child marriage is amongst Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, with 26 per cent of the girls getting married before the age of 18 years.
• Eight states-West Bengal, Bihar, Tripura Jharkhand, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Telangana have a higher prevalence of child marriage than the national average.

Also read: Assam Govt. launches scheme to promote Girl education & end Child marriage