Daily Current Affairs : 29-November-2024
The Union Minister for Women and Child Development recently launched the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign”, a national initiative focused on eradicating child marriage in India. The campaign aims to address one of the most pressing issues faced by the country—child marriage—and is set to engage various stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and local communities. By leveraging technology and collective efforts, the campaign hopes to create a future where child marriage is a thing of the past.
Key Objectives of the Campaign
The primary objective of the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign is to eliminate child marriage in India. It focuses on the following goals:
- Eradicate Child Marriage: The campaign’s goal is to bring down child marriage rates to below 5% by 2029.
- Focus on High-Burden States and Districts: The initiative will specifically target states and districts with high rates of child marriage.
- Collective Effort: Involvement of various stakeholders—government, local communities, and technology platforms—will ensure success.
Target States and Districts
The campaign has identified several states with high child marriage rates. These include:
- West Bengal
- Bihar
- Jharkhand
- Rajasthan
- Tripura
- Assam
- Andhra Pradesh
Along with these states, nearly 300 districts have been marked as high-burden areas that require immediate attention.
Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal
One of the key components of the campaign is the Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal. This platform serves multiple purposes:
- Awareness: It provides information to the public about the consequences of child marriage and the importance of delaying marriage until adulthood.
- Reporting Mechanism: The portal allows citizens to report cases of child marriage, which can then be tracked by Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs).
- Real-Time Monitoring: The portal ensures that progress is tracked in real-time and supports monitoring by local and state authorities.
Monitoring and Accountability
A strong monitoring mechanism has been put in place to ensure accountability at every level:
- Central Nodal Officers: These officers will oversee the implementation of the campaign across the country.
- State-Level CMPOs: Each state will have officers responsible for monitoring progress and providing support to affected individuals and families.
Achievements and Future Goals
While the campaign is still in its early stages, India has already made notable progress in reducing child marriage rates:
- 2006: The child marriage rate stood at 47.4%.
- 2019-21: The rate has decreased to 23.3%.
The current goal is to bring this rate down to below 5% by 2029. This ambitious target reflects the government’s commitment to ending child marriage and ensuring the rights and well-being of every child.
Public Awareness and Participation
The Awareness Drive is a key aspect of the campaign. It aims to reach the general public and encourage them to:
- Access Information: Citizens will be able to learn about the harmful effects of child marriage and how to prevent it.
- Register Complaints: Anyone who comes across a case of child marriage can report it via the portal, which will trigger necessary action by authorities.
Important Points:
- Campaign Launch: The “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign” aims to eliminate child marriage in India.
- Objective: The goal is to reduce child marriage rates to below 5% by 2029.
- Target States: Focus on high-burden states like West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Tripura, Assam, and Andhra Pradesh.
- High-Burden Districts: Nearly 300 districts identified for targeted efforts.
- Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal: A platform to raise awareness, report cases, and monitor progress.
- Monitoring System: Central nodal officers and state-level Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) to ensure accountability.
- Progress: Child marriage rates have decreased from 47.4% in 2006 to 23.3% in 2019-21.
- Public Awareness: The campaign encourages public participation through information access and reporting via the portal.
- Collective Effort: Involvement of government, NGOs, and communities to ensure the campaign’s success.
Why In News
The Union Minister for Women and Child Development recently launched the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign”, a national initiative aimed at eradicating child marriage in India. This campaign seeks to engage multiple stakeholders, including government bodies, NGOs, and local communities, while leveraging technology to create a robust system for monitoring, reporting, and raising awareness about child marriage.
MCQs about Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat
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What is the primary goal of the “Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign”?
A. To increase the marriage age of women
B. To eliminate child marriage in India
C. To provide financial aid to child brides
D. To promote awareness about women’s rights
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Which states are specifically targeted by the Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat Campaign?
A. Kerala, Goa, Punjab
B. Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana
C. West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand
D. Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka
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What is the purpose of the **Child Marriage Free Bharat Portal**?
A. To provide financial support to victims of child marriage
B. To raise awareness, report cases, and track progress in real-time
C. To register marriages that meet legal age requirements
D. To provide legal aid to those affected by child marriage
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