The campaign was officially inaugurated on October 13, 2025, by Don Bosco Kawant and Don Bosco Kapadvanj, both of which have long been committed to protecting the dignity and future of children. This regional initiative aligns with the national movement “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.

Under the umbrella of the national campaign, DISHA Don Bosco, Kawant, and DRISTI Don Bosco, Kapadvanj — both partners of the Just Rights for Children Alliance — have played a pivotal role in raising awareness and preventing child marriages at the grassroots level. Nationwide, the campaign has successfully 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 serve as powerful symbols of change and community commitment.

Intensive Awareness Drive: November 1, 2025 – January 26, 2026

As the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign marks its first anniversary, Don Bosco Gujarat is set to launch a 100-day intensive awareness drive. The campaign aims to mobilize communities, strengthen local participation, and foster collaboration among stakeholders to eliminate child marriage entirely.

Key community influencers will be engaged during this period, including:

- Religious leaders such as pujaris, maulanas, and granthis who officiate marriages.
- Marriage enablers like caterers, printers, band and music groups, sweet makers (halwais), and market associations.
- Village panchayats, who are instrumental in ensuring vigilance and accountability at the local level.

Government Support and Strategic Action

To ensure effective implementation, Don Bosco Gujarat has sought the support of district collectors with the following strategic requests:

- Organizing district-level meetings with panchayats to secure pledges for child marriage-free zones.
- Issuing official circulars to marriage enablers, outlining legal consequences for facilitating child marriages.
- Declaring child marriage-free districts through coordinated community action.

Between June and September 2025, Don Bosco teams profiled 150 villages across the three districts, conducted community meetings, painted awareness messages on walls in 25 villages, and collected pledge letters from 150 families. A national-level workshop titled “Voices of Survivors” featured 53 participants, sharing powerful stories of resilience and hope.

Fr. Mayank Parmar, SDB, Director of DISHA Don Bosco, emphasized the urgency of the campaign: “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.”

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

Don Bosco Gujarat continues its mission to educate, empower, and protect young lives. The 100-day drive stands as a powerful reminder that every child deserves the right to grow, learn, and dream — free from the burden of early marriage.