By Fr Mayank Parmar, SDB for BIS Mumbai

Don Bosco Gujarat has joined hands with Just Rights for Children to launch a 100-day campaign against child marriage in three districts of Gujarat — Anand, Vadodara, and Chhotaudepur. The campaign was officially initiated on October 13, 2025, by Don Bosco Kawant and Don Bosco Kapadvanj, who have been working tirelessly to protect the rights and dignity of children.

This campaign follows the national initiative “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat” (Child Marriage-Free India), which was launched by the Hon’ble Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annapurna Devi, on November 27, 2024, at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The movement has already made a remarkable impact across several states of India, including the districts of Chhotaudepur, Anand, and Vadodara in Gujarat, through the collective efforts of government officials, civil society organizations, and community leaders.

Under this initiative, DISHA Don Bosco, Kawant, and DRISTI Don Bosco, Kapadvanj, both partners of the Just Rights for Children Alliance, have played a significant role in spreading awareness and preventing child marriages at the grassroots level. Nationwide, the campaign has helped prevent over 1.9 lakh child marriages, saving countless young girls and boys from losing their childhood and opportunities for education and growth.

In Gujarat, more than 300 parents from the three districts have signed written pledges promising not to marry off their underage children. These written guarantees are powerful testimonies of change and commitment towards building a safer future for every child.

As the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign completes its first year, Don Bosco Gujarat is preparing for a 100-day intensive awareness drive from November 1, 2025, to January 26, 2026. The goal is to create mass awareness, strengthen community participation, and build strong collaboration among all stakeholders to eliminate child marriage completely.

During these 100 days, the campaign will reach out to key community influencers who play an important role in the marriage process. These include:

1. Religious leaders — such as pujaris, maulanas, and granthis — who solemnize marriages.

2. Marriage enablers — including caterers, printers, band and music groups, sweet makers (halwais), and market associations.

3. Village panchayats, who can ensure vigilance and commitment at the community level.

The campaign has also sought the support and guidance of district collectors to ensure effective implementation. Key requests include:

· Launching the campaign officially by holding district-level meetings with panchayats to seek their pledge for making their areas child marriage-free within a year.

· Issuing official circulars to marriage enablers, informing them about legal penalties for organizing or permitting child marriages.

· Issuing directions to create and declare child marriage-free districts through coordinated community action.

From June to September 2025, several preparatory activities were already carried out. The Don Bosco teams have profiled 150 villages across the three districts, spreading messages against child marriage through wall paintings in 25 villages, community meetings, and pledge letters from 150 families. Moreover, a national-level workshop titled “Voices of Survivors” included 53 participants, highlighting real-life stories of resilience and hope.

Speaking about the campaign, Fr. Mayank Parmar, SDB, Director of DISHA Don Bosco, emphasized, “This campaign is the need of the hour. The government, civil society, and people of goodwill must come together to protect children and completely eradicate the evil of child marriage.”

Adding to this, Mr. Shailesh Parmar, Programme Officer of DRISTI Don Bosco, Kapadvanj, said, “Being part of a nationwide campaign like this will not only create change in India but also inspire action across the globe.”

Through these efforts, Don Bosco Gujarat continues its mission of educating, empowering, and protecting young lives. The 100-day campaign is a strong reminder that every child deserves the right to grow, learn, and dream — free from the burden of early marriage.