'Bal Vivah Mukti Rath' concludes journey

The ‘Bal Vivah Mukti Rath’, a unique campaign on wheels that reached 5,22,68,033 people across 28 states, 439 districts and 66,344 villages, culminated on International Women’s Day on Sunday, March 8, 2026 after travelling 6,79,077 kilometres over the last one month with the message of a child marriage free India. Launched by Just Rights for Children as part of Government of India’s 100 Days Intensive Campaign to End Child Marriage, the campaign saw over 500 Bal Vivah Mukti Rath vehicles traverse the length and breadth of the country, mobilising and sensitizing the communities about the laws against child marriage. Just Rights for Children is the country’s largest network of NGOs working on child protection and child rights, with over 250 partner organisations across India. The Bal Vivah Mukti Raths were flagged off across states by chief ministers, deputy chief ministers, members of Parliament, district magistrates, and even speakers and deputy speakers of state legislatures.
The campaign was notable for the unprecedented support it received across the country. Politicians, women survivors, civil society organisations, police personnel and faith leaders came together, cutting across political parties, ideologies, social backgrounds and religions, to strengthen the collective resolve to end child marriage by 2030. Notably, the prevalence of child marriage as per government data from 2019–21 is 23.3 percent, which means almost one in every four girls is married before she turns 18. In its month-long journey, the Bal Vivah Mukti Rath travelled through 66,344 villages, conducted 2,75,622 activities, and roped in 43,984 faith leaders during the process.