ASIA/INDIA – The Salesians against child marriage: Every boy and girl has the right to grow, learn, and dream

Gandhinagar – With an awareness-raising campaign scheduled to run from November 1, 2025, to January 26, 2026, the Salesians in the Indian state of Gujarat aim to raise awareness among the population about the problem of child marriage and promote community participation and close cooperation among all stakeholders in solving the problem, with the aim of completely eradicating child marriage.

In India, the law sets the minimum age of marriage at 18 for girls and 21 for boys. Although underage marriage is prohibited, according to UNICEF, India is still the country with the highest number of young people forced into marriage before reaching adulthood: over 200 million, plus many unreported cases.

One year after the nationwide campaign “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” , the missionaries, in collaboration with the NGO “Just Rights for Children,” officially launched the initiative against child marriage on October 13, 2025, in three districts of Gujarat: Anand, Vadodara, and Chhotaudepur. More than 300 parents from the three districts signed a written pledge pledging not to marry off their underage children. These written pledges are a testament to change and a commitment to a more secure future for every child, according to the statement from the Salesians of Don Bosco.

Various preparatory initiatives were already carried out from June to September 2025. In the three districts, awareness of the problem of child marriage was raised in 150 villages through graffiti, community meetings, and declarations of commitment from 150 families. In addition, 53 people participated in a nationwide workshop titled “Voices of Survivors,” which showcased stories of resilience and hope. The 100-day awareness campaign also aims to reach out to religious leaders who officiate weddings, staff at wedding-related institutions, and village leaders.

The “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” initiative was launched on November 27, 2024, by Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of government officials, civil society organizations, and community leaders, the movement has already achieved remarkable success in several Indian states. Nationally, the campaign has helped prevent over 190,000 child marriages and protect countless girls and boys from losing their childhood and their educational and developmental opportunities.

With this initiative, the Salesians of Gujarat continue their mission to educate, protect, and contribute to the full development of young people. The campaign is a powerful appeal that reminds us that every child has the right to grow, learn, and dream, free from the burden of early marriage.

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