‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ Campaign Launched by Union Minister

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, launched the national campaign “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” in New Delhi. Aimed at eradicating child marriage and empowering young girls, the campaign aligns with the vision of a developed India (Viksit Bharat) by 2047. It includes the launch of the Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal, an innovative tool for citizen engagement and enforcement of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. 

Campaign Launch and Objectives

• Union Minister Smt. Annapurna Devi launched the campaign in New Delhi.
• Objective: Eradicate child marriage and ensure education, health, and safety for girls.
• Aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal

• Online platform for reporting child marriage incidents and filing complaints.
• Provides details of Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) nationwide.

Key Achievements Highlighted

Improved sex ratio at birth,

• 918 (2014-15) → 930 (2023-24).
• Prevented over 1 lakh child marriages in 2023.
• Recognized by the United Nations for significant contributions to reducing global child marriage rates.

Notable Participants

• Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur.
• Shri Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development.
• 150 District Collectors, NGOs, local bodies, and schools participated in the event.

Inspirational Stories of Champions

• Bucha Ramanamma (Andhra Pradesh): Prevented her own marriage and became an engineer earning ₹6 lakhs annually.
• Majji Ramya (Andhra Pradesh): Resisted family pressure and is pursuing education.
• Durga (Bihar): Prevented her sister’s marriage using legal awareness.
• Roshni Perween (Bihar): Rescued 60 girls and is a UN Young Activist Laureate.
• Namrata Pandurang (Maharashtra): Halted her marriage and became a businesswoman.
• C. Lalnunfela (Mizoram): Collaborates with faith-based groups to prevent child marriages.
• Silu Pradhan (Odisha): Actively prevents child marriages while studying engineering.
• Jyotsna Akhter (Tripura): Stopped her marriage and inspired her village, earning the Pradhan Mantri Bal Puraskar in 2024.

Engagement and Outreach

• The live-streamed event reached 82,000 viewers.
• Over 50 lakh participants joined the online pledge against child marriage.

Campaign Significance

• Part of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
• Reinforces collective action between government, social organizations, and citizens.
• Emphasizes the role of women in workforce participation and societal progress.