On November 27 2024, Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Annapurna Devi, launched the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” campaign in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi(Delhi) to eradicate child marriage and empower young girls across the nation. This national initiative is a strategic effort to combat child marriage, ensuring that every girl has the opportunity to be educated, protected, and free to pursue her dreams.
- The launch coincides with the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, a global movement running from 25th November, 2024 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10th December 2024 (Human Rights Day).
- The event also marked the launch of ‘Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal’, a vital online platform that empowers citizens to report child marriage incidents, file complaints, and access details about Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) nationwide.
Note: The Sex Ratio at Birth(SRB) at the national level increased from 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24.
About Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign:
i.This initiative is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Women and Child Development(MWCD) and various other Ministries.
ii.The anti-child marriage campaign will focus on 7 high-burden states : West Bengal(WB), Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh(AP).and 300 districts where their rates are above the national average.
iii.The aim of this campaign is to reduce child marriage prevalence to below 5% by 2029. Child marriage rates dropped from 47.4% in 2006 to 23.3% in 2019-21.
iv.The campaign aligns with India’s vision of achieving a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, as outlined by the Prime Minister (PM). It strictly prohibits marriages involving girls under 18 and boys under 21, with stringent penalties for violators.
v.It draws inspiration from successful initiatives such as “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” (BBBP) focuses on raising awareness, fostering collaboration between government, Non-Governmental Organization(NGOs), citizens and promoting gender equality through education and social empowerment.
About Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal:
i.The Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal is a game-changer, allowing citizens to actively report violations and contribute to the movement.
- This portal serves as a critical tool for enforcing the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and aims to make the fight against child marriage more accessible and efficient.
ii.By fostering a strong network of CMPOs, the portal enhances the effectiveness of the law and empowers communities to safeguard the rights of girls.
iii.People will be able to register their complaints pertaining to child marriage, and these will be directed straight to the concerned CMPOs anywhere in the country.
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