On January 24, India observes National Girl Child Day, a day that stands as a beacon of hope for millions of girls across the nation. It is a day of reflection, action, and above all, a commitment to change the lives of girls who have for too long been trapped in cycles of discrimination and inequality. This day is not just about celebrating progress; it’s about acknowledging the battles that remain and the collective will needed to win them.
The Shadow of Child Marriage
One such battle that looms large over India (and the world) is child marriage. Imagine being robbed of your childhood dreams, silenced before your voice could bloom, and shackled by traditions that demand compliance over choice. For thousands of girls, this is not a nightmare—it’s their reality. India accounts for one-third of the world’s child marriage victims, according to UN data. These numbers are not just statistics; they are stories of interrupted lives, stolen opportunities, and suppressed potential.
Ripples of Change
But not all is as dark as it sounds. Ripples of change began early last year when over 250 NGOs began a unique movement as part of the Just Rights for Children (JRC) network to end child marriage in the villages of India. While on one hand they worked for awareness generation through pledges and mass communication, on the other they intervened legally and even approached the judiciary for changes in the way this crime is perceived in our country. Hearing a petition by JRC, Rajasthan High Court passed a judgement ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, a festival infamous for large-scale child marriage, that the panchayats and village heads in villages of Rajasthan will be held accountable if any child marriage takes place in their vicinity. Then came Supreme Court’s verdict issuing guidelines for the elimination of child marriage. And then India surged its head against this centuries’ old crime when the government launched a nationwide campaign for ‘Child Marriage Free Bharat’ by 2030, in compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals.
Making Girls their Own Superheroes
These are some important transformative changes that has set the tone for huge changes at both policy as well as people levels. An entire ecosystem is created in the last year for girls so that they can say no to this social crime and work towards thier dream. Such has been the ripple effect of this act that on the last day of 2024, neighbouring Nepal too launched a ‘Child Marriage Free Nepal’ supported by Just Rights for Children and BASE Nepal.
While this sets in motion an important change, one thing that we must look at on this National Girl Child’s Day is various ways to empower our daughters. Empowering girls isn’t just about saving them; it’s about equipping them to save themselves. When girls become their own superheroes, they challenge norms, inspire change, and redefine their futures. Education, skills, and mentorship are the tools that arm them for this fight.
Off to School to be off the Hook
Tula Ram’s four daughters, all under 18, were to be married in a month’s time. Everyone protested but when he paid no heed, the daughters went quiet. But not 15-year-old Shivika (name changed) who sought help from NGO Gramrajya Vikas Evam Prashikshan Sansthan to prevent these child marriages. The NGO members along with village authorities and police finally managed to stop these marriages. Thanks to the awareness programmes conducted in her school, Shivika knew that she had a voice and a right she could exercise.
This real life incident from a village in Rajasthan’s Karauli district is a clear example of what education can do in ending child marriage.
Education is not just a pathway to knowledge; it’s a shield against exploitation. Girls who stay in school are less likely to be forced into marriage and more likely to pursue meaningful careers and lives of dignity. As per the findings of a nationwide survey by National Commission for Protection of Children’s Rights, the country right now has more than 11 lakh students who had either remained absent for a month or dropped out. Each of these children is vulnerable to child marriage and need to be brought back to school.
As child rights activist and author Bhuwan Ribhu writes in his book, “When Children have Children: Tipping Point to End Child Marriage”, technology can be used optimally for the protection of children. “The potential of digital platforms and devices can be tapped to deliver information, education, services, and support to girls at-risk of or affected by child marriage.” For India with over 954 million internet subscribers, use of technology for identifying and protecting children from child marriage can be a game changer.
Every empowered girl is a story of hope
Once these young girls know that parents marrying them off is not their parental right but a crime, they would have the ground to fight, oppose and complain. So we need to tell them what their rights are and rest will follow. Schools, community centres, Aanganwadi workers, and social workers need to spread information about the legal age of marriage, the consequences of child marriages and whom to approach if there is an impending child marriage in their knowledge. See the magic of empowerment grow multifold as they become aware that both the government, the laws and the system are with them. Like Shivika in Rajasthan, Mahua’s marriage at 16 was also stopped in a village in West Bengal when one of her friends approached the teachers in school and informed them about her marriage.
Incentivisation: A Strategic Tool
One of the most pressing causes—and consequences—of child marriage is poverty. Parents, often driven by financial insecurity and a lack of awareness, marry off their daughters in the hope of securing economic stability. In this context, incentivization emerges as a powerful tool to combat child marriage by encouraging education and delaying early marriages.
Several national and state government schemes have already demonstrated the potential of this approach. For example, the West Bengal government’s Kanyashree Prakalpa scheme provides financial support to teenage girls to continue their education, significantly reducing school dropout rates and, in turn, child marriages. Similarly, Uttar Pradesh’s Kanya Sumangala scheme offers INR 3,000 to girls enrolled in Class 9 and an additional INR 5,000 for those pursuing higher education. These initiatives not only provide financial relief to families but also create a tangible incentive to prioritize education over early marriage.
If a practice as deeply entrenched in societal norms, religion, and economic hardship as child marriage can be challenged through financial incentives, it underscores the power of targeted interventions. While these schemes may not eliminate the issue entirely, they pave the way for systemic change by altering perceptions and creating opportunities for girls to envision a future beyond early marriage.
The Road Ahead to Child Marriage Free Bharat
National Girl Child Day is not just a date on the calendar; it is a clarion call to action. It reminds us that empowering girls is not just a moral imperative but a societal necessity. By breaking the chains of child marriage and fostering a culture of equality, we are building a nation where every girl can dream freely, act boldly, and live fearlessly.
To truly honour this day, we must ensure that no girl is left behind. The fight is far from over, but the victories—both big and small—remind us of the incredible resilience and potential of India’s daughters. Together, we can create a world where girls are not just survivors but changemakers, superheroes who rewrite their destinies and inspire generations to come.
The author is National Convenor, Just Rights for Children
(Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author’s own and do not reflect those of DNA)
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National Girl Child Day: A day of reflection and action to end child marriage
