New Delhi: In a major national push to eliminate child marriage, the Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the 100-Day Intensive Awareness Campaign for a Child Marriage Free Bharat on 4 December 2025 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.
The programme marks the first anniversary of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, a nationwide initiative aimed at empowering girls, strengthening community awareness, and eliminating the practice of child marriage across the country.
The campaign was inaugurated by the Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, in the presence of Minister of State, Smt. Savitri Thakur, senior officials, civil society representatives and frontline workers.
Background: One Year of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
Launched in 2024, the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan is a flagship national movement designed to:
- Reduce the prevalence of child marriage
- Improve the Sex Ratio at Birth
- Expand educational continuity for girls
- Increase opportunities for girls’ future economic empowerment
- Strengthen community participation in safeguarding children
Over the past year, the initiative has mobilised thousands of Anganwadi workers, ASHAs, teachers, SHGs, counsellors, One Stop Centres, and grassroots collectives to prevent early marriage and promote girls’ rights.
The new 100-day campaign intensifies this mission, focusing on last-mile communities and high-risk districts.
Union Minister Annapurna Devi: “Child marriage is a legal violation and a moral injustice”
Addressing the gathering, Smt. Annapurna Devi reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to building a Bharat where every daughter and every son can lead a life of dignity, equality, and opportunity.
She stated that child marriage:
- Violates the law
- Deprives girls of education
- Limits future economic independence
- Heightens health risks
- Reinforces gender inequality
Calling the practice a moral and social injustice, the Minister stressed that eliminating it is essential for India’s development trajectory.
She highlighted the Government’s evidence-driven interventions that have contributed to improving the sex ratio, increasing girls’ school enrollment, and expanding access to schemes that ensure girls’ safety, skill development, and empowerment.
₹1,827 Crore Allocated for Scholarships to Support Girls’ Education Under Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan
One of the major announcements made during the event was the Union Government’s allocation of ₹1,827 crore exclusively towards scholarships for girls, ensuring uninterrupted access to education and reducing economic pressure that often leads to early marriage.
The Minister also emphasised that:
- 43% of the STEM workforce in India comprises women, one of the highest ratios globally
- Strengthening education and upskilling will further expand girls’ participation in high-growth sectors
- India’s daughters are excelling in global arenas and need continued institutional support
- She acknowledged the tireless efforts of all frontline workers including Anganwadi staff, SHGs, counsellors, ASHAs, and civil society organisations who play a critical role at the community level.
States and UTs Urged to Accelerate Action Against Child Marriage
The WCD Minister urged all States and Union Territories to intensify local campaigns, strengthen law enforcement, and enhance coordination with:
- Panchayati Raj institutions
- Women’s collectives
- District Child Protection Units
- Local youth groups
- School and college networks
She stressed that with robust community-based intervention, the prevalence of child marriage can be brought down to near zero levels in the coming years.
Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Abhiyan: Minister of State Savitri Thakur Highlights Grassroots Focus
Minister of State, Smt. Savitri Thakur, underlined that the Abhiyan’s strength lies in its community-led, grassroots-driven structure, especially in remote and vulnerable regions.
She noted that ending child marriage is crucial to building a socially strong and economically developed Bharat, and that community awareness is as important as legal enforcement.
Importance of 100-Day Campaign
The intensified national campaign will focus on:
- Mass awareness drives in schools, colleges, and villages
- Door-to-door outreach by frontline workers
- Skill-building and empowerment workshops for adolescent girls
- Monitoring of high-risk households
- Strengthening referral mechanisms for reporting child marriages
- Engaging religious & community leaders to shift social norms
The initiative aims to create a powerful national movement to ensure that every child’s right to education, safety and dignity is protected.
