Rajasthan Officials and NGO Prevent 13 Child Marriages Across Three Districts
District administrations in Rajasthan, India, successfully prevented 13 child marriages scheduled to take place on Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day for weddings. The intervention occurred across three districts: nine cases were stopped in Udaipur, while two each were prevented in Pratapgarh and Sikar. This operation was a collaborative effort between local government officials, police, and Gayatri Seva Sansthan (GSS), a Udaipur-based NGO partnered with the national network Just Rights for Children. GSS facilitated the interventions by offering rewards for confidential tips and running a month-long awareness campaign. In Udaipur, authorities acted on information provided by GSS, summoning local village leaders to remind them of their legal responsibilities under Rajasthan High Court directives. Two children were placed in shelter homes for safety. The Rajasthan High Court had previously held gram panchayats accountable for failing to prevent such marriages within their jurisdictions. This initiative highlights the ongoing cooperation between civil society organizations and state machinery to enforce child protection laws and achieve the goal of ending child marriage by 2030.
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Rajasthan Officials and NGO Prevent 13 Child Marriages Across Three Districts
District administrations in Rajasthan, India, successfully prevented 13 child marriages scheduled to take place on Akshaya Tritiya, an auspicious day for weddings. The intervention occurred across three districts: nine cases were stopped in Udaipur, while two each were prevented in Pratapgarh and Sikar. This operation was a collaborative effort between local government officials, police, and Gayatri Seva Sansthan (GSS), a Udaipur-based NGO partnered with the national network Just Rights for Children. GSS facilitated the interventions by offering rewards for confidential tips and running a month-long awareness campaign. In Udaipur, authorities acted on information provided by GSS, summoning local village leaders to remind them of their legal responsibilities under Rajasthan High Court directives. Two children were placed in shelter homes for safety. The Rajasthan High Court had previously held gram panchayats accountable for failing to prevent such marriages within their jurisdictions. This initiative highlights the ongoing cooperation between civil society organizations and state machinery to enforce child protection laws and achieve the goal of ending child marriage by 2030.
The Indian Express