Matters India Reporter

Chhotaudepur, October 19, 2025 — In a bold move to safeguard the rights of children, Don Bosco Gujarat, in collaboration with Just Rights for Children, launched a 100-day campaign to eradicate child marriage across Anand, Vadodara, and Chhotaudepur districts.

The campaign was inaugurated on 13 October 2025 by Don Bosco Kawant and Don Bosco Kapadvanj, both of which have long championed the dignity and future of children. This regional initiative aligns with the national movement Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat (Child Marriage-Free India), launched by Union Minister Smt. Annapurna Devi in November 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Under the national umbrella, DISHA Don Bosco, Kawant, and DRISTI Don Bosco, Kapadvanj — partners of the Just Rights for Children Alliance — have played a pivotal role in grassroots awareness and prevention. Nationwide, the campaign has prevented over 1.9 lakh child marriages, offering thousands of children the chance to pursue education and personal growth.

In Gujarat alone, more than 300 parents have signed written pledges vowing not to marry off their underage children. “These pledges are not just signatures,” said Salesian Fr. Mayank Parmar, Director of DISHA Don Bosco. “They are declarations of hope, of a future where children are free to learn, grow, and dream.”

The 100-day intensive awareness drive, running from 1 November 2025 to 26 January 2026, aims to mobilize communities, strengthen local participation, and foster collaboration among stakeholders. Religious leaders — pujaris, maulanas, granthis — along with marriage enablers such as caterers, printers, musicians, and halwais, will be engaged to ensure vigilance and accountability. Village panchayats will play a key role in declaring child marriage-free zones.

Don Bosco Gujarat has sought the support of district collectors to convene panchayat meetings, issue legal advisories to marriage facilitators, and coordinate community action. “We are not just fighting a practice,” said Mr. Shailesh Parmar, Programme Officer of DRISTI Don Bosco. “We are building a movement — one that can ripple across India and beyond.”

Between June and September 2025, Don Bosco teams profiled 150 villages, conducted community meetings, painted awareness messages on walls in 25 villages, and collected pledge letters from 150 families. A national workshop titled Voices of Survivors brought together 53 participants who shared stories of resilience and transformation.

“This campaign is the need of the hour,” Fr. Mayank Parmar reiterated. “The government, civil society, and people of goodwill must come together to protect children and completely eradicate the evil of child marriage.”

Don Bosco Gujarat continues its mission to educate, empower, and protect young lives. The campaign stands as a clarion call: every child deserves the right to grow, learn, and dream — free from the burden of early marriage.