Change Becomes Possible

When Administration and Society Join Hands

We are one step further in our mission to end child marriage on our district of Ahiliyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) thanks to a proactive initiative taken by our District Collector and Chief Executive Officer of the District Council, Mr Anand Bhandari.

Under his leadership, our Udaan Child Marriage Prevention Campaign is gaining momentum marking a new chapter in community-driven social change. Udaan has been working in our rural areas for the past five years to prevent child marriages and ensure young girls are given the opportunity to continue their education. Now, with official backing from the district administration, this campaign is set to expand its reach and impact more lives effectively.

Mr. Bhandari's commitment came after discussions with our team covering key national initiatives such as the Government of India’s ‘Child Marriage-Free India’ campaign and Supreme Court directives on child marriage prevention, emphasising the importance of a coordinated effort.

Our Udaan project has already achieved notable success in many villages—combining awareness drives, legal action, village council resolutions, the formation of child marriage prevention committees and collaboration with local agencies—to ensure effective implementation.

Impressed by these efforts, Mr Bhandari instructed officials to ensure that our campaign is implemented effectively in every village within our district. He emphasized the importance of involving Gram Panchayats, schools, Anganwadi centers, police, social organizations and youth groups, fostering strong coordination among all stakeholders. This decision will significantly help curb child marriages in the district, promote higher education among girls, foster self-reliance and instill the ideals of gender equality.

Speaking about this important step, Mr. Bhandari stated, “Addressing social issues requires collaboration between administration and community organisations. Udaan is laying a strong foundation, and we are committed to supporting it fully.”

With the combined efforts of experienced organizations like Snehaalaya and the district administration, the ‘Udaan’ initiative is set to accelerate and expand. This collaborative effort promises to serve as an inspiring example for other districts and states, demonstrating how collective action can lead to meaningful social change.

Together, administration and society can bring about a better tomorrow.