Child Marriage FREE Bharat campaign launched in Chennai

Indian Community Welfare Organisation (ICWO) in association with Just Rights for Children organised the nation-wide launch of the campaign ‘Child Marriage FREE Bharat’ on Wednesday in Chennai. Rajkumar Muthukrishnan, chairperson, Child Welfare Committee, Chennai South inaugurated the banner for ‘Child Marriage FREE Bharat’.

Speaking at the event, Natharsha Malim. H, State coordinator, Association for Voluntary Action (AVA) said, “The number of cases leading to an FIR is relatively low across the States compared to the number of marriages reported, highlighting the potential gaps in the implementation of the Act and initiation of legal action.”

A.Bakthavatchalam, member, Child Welfare Committee – Chennai South, released the awareness e-poster. As many as 250 people participated in the awareness programme, candle light event and also took an oath to prevent child marriage. A.J.Hariharan, secretary-ICWO said, “Child marriage is a social evil and a violation of law that hampers girls’ education, protection, health and development.”

The network of organisations and activists also demanded the government and all political parties to promote education of children, especially girls, by increasing the age limit of free education to 18 years. He also added that they aim to reduce child marriages from 23.3% to 10% by 2025 and to make India child-marriage-free by 2030.

Published - November 27, 2024 11:08 pm IST