Jaipur: In a strong crackdown against child marriage, a joint effort by an NGO and the district administration successfully prevented 13 child marriages across Rajasthan on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, a festival traditionally associated with массов weddings.
The initiative was led by Gayatri Seva Sansthan (GSS), which worked in coordination with local authorities to stop the illegal marriages. Of the total cases, nine were prevented in Udaipur, while two each were stopped in Pratapgarh and Sikar, officials said.
Authorities acted swiftly on alerts received from the NGO, with teams including police, Child Welfare Committee members, and local officials intervening on the ground to halt the ceremonies. In one instance, multiple child marriages were stopped in a single village following timely action.
Officials also reiterated the directions of the Rajasthan High Court, which holds gram panchayats accountable if child marriages occur within their jurisdiction. Local functionaries such as sarpanches, patwaris, and gram secretaries were sensitised about their legal responsibilities.
As part of preventive measures, some minors were moved to shelter homes to ensure their safety. The NGO also announced a ₹1,100 reward for individuals providing credible information about child marriages, while maintaining confidentiality to encourage reporting.
The effort was part of a broader month-long awareness campaign, which included the rollout of a “Child Marriage Free India Rath” across several districts to spread awareness and mobilise community participation.
Despite increasing vigilance and awareness drives, Akshaya Tritiya continues to be a high-risk period for child marriages in parts of Rajasthan. However, officials say that coordinated action between civil society and administration is showing encouraging results, with rising reporting and quicker interventions helping to curb the practice.
