Union Minister calls for collective effort to end child marriage by 2030

Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Virendra Kumar, has called on faith leaders and civil society organisations to collaborate with the government in the mission to eliminate child marriage by 2030. Speaking at a training workshop for child rights activists, organised by the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA), that Kumar expressed confidence India, with its history of overcoming regressive practices, could successfully eradicate child marriage.

“We are a nation where nothing is impossible once we set our minds to it. We have abolished harmful practices such as ‘Sati Pratha’ and this gives us the confidence that child marriage can also be eradicated,” Kumar stated. He emphasised the government’s ongoing efforts under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, underlining the commitment to child welfare and a vision of a “Child Marriage-Free Bharat.”

The workshop, held in New Delhi, was part of a broader initiative led by AVA, a partner of Just Rights for Children (JRC), a network of over 250 NGOs working across 416 districts of the country on child protection and rights. Kumar said AVA, in collaboration with NITI Aayog, is working to empower children in 73 aspirational districts, with plans to declare 15,000 villages across 12 states as ‘Child Marriage-Free’.

The minister stressed that the fight against child marriage requires a united approach, with support from religious leaders, voluntary organisations and communities. “A vigilant society, supported by leaders from all faiths, must rise above traditions to work with unwavering commitment to make India child marriage-free by 2030,” he said.

Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children, also addressed the gathering, underscoring the significance of the collaboration between AVA and NITI Aayog in addressing child marriage, child labour and trafficking. He said the partnership could be a pivotal moment in India’s journey towards child welfare, stressing the need to ensure every child is connected to government welfare schemes

and education.

“India is on its path to becoming a global leader in championing the rights of the vulnerable and this collaboration could be a milestone in ending child marriage and child trafficking,” Ribhu added. He also pointed out the importance of the prevention-protection-prosecution cycle in securing a child marriage-free future for India by 2030.