MANOJ SINHA
Ramgarh, Nov 27: Inspired by the Government of India’s 100-Day Intensive Action Plan to eliminate child marriage nationwide, AGRAGATI has pledged to make Ramgarh child marriage free within one year. The nationwide 100 Days Intensive Awareness Campaign, launched to mark one year of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, focuses on schools, educational institutions, religious places, marriage-related service providers, and local governance bodies such as panchayats and municipal wards to eradicate this long-standing crime against children.
AGRAGATI is a partner of Just Rights for Children (JRC), India’s largest network of more than 250 organisations working in 451 districts to end child marriage. In the last year alone, the network prevented over one lakh child marriages across the country.
Awareness programmes and pledge ceremonies held district-wide
To mark one year of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign launched on 27 November 2024, AGRAGATI organised awareness programmes in schools, colleges, institutions, and village communities, along with district-wide pledge ceremonies.
The NGO also sensitised the public about provisions under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, highlighting that service providers—including caterers, guests, tent house operators, and faith leaders solemnising child marriages—can face punishment.
Working with law enforcement agencies and the district administration, AGRAGATI has already stopped 333 child marriages in Ramgarh in the past year.
‘No veil can hide this crime anymore,’ says AGRAGATI director
Welcoming the government’s announcement, NGO Director Kiron Sankar Dutt said:
“These 100 days of intensive action can change the course of this country and bring us closer to the Prime Minister’s vision of a Viksit Bharat. For generations, girls have been denied opportunities and pushed into abuse, exploitation, and rape in the name of marriage. This unprecedented convergence of elected representatives, government departments, law enforcement, and communities is a game changer. We are confident we will make Ramgarh child marriage free within a year.”
DLSA supports campaign to end child marriage
Anil Kumar, Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Ramgarh, said he administered the oath against child marriage and assured that all agencies will work together to strengthen the campaign being carried out by AGRAGATI.
Three-phase campaign to conclude on Women’s Day 2026
The 100 Days Intensive Awareness Campaign, divided into three spells, will conclude on 8 March 2026, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
- First spell (till 31 December 2025): Awareness generation through schools, colleges, and educational institutions.
- Second spell (1–31 January 2026): Focus on religious places and marriage-related service providers such as temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras, wedding halls, and band parties.
- Third spell (till 8 March 2026): Engagement with gram panchayats and municipal wards to strengthen community-level participation and ownership.
