Rui Chhattishi

The First 'Child Marriage-Free Village' in the District: A Landmark Achievement

Paving the Way with the Snehalaya's Udaan Project

In a significant milestone for social progress, Rui Chhattishi village has been declared our district's first 'Child Marriage-Free Village.' This achievement is a testament to the collective efforts of the community, local administration and dedicated organisations working tirelessly to eradicate child marriage and promote the rights and well-being of children.

A Collective Triumph: Meeting All the Criteria

The journey towards this landmark was driven by a robust partnership among local authorities, elected representatives, Child Protection Committees, Anganwadi workers, teachers, and villagers. Their concerted efforts successfully fulfilled key benchmarks, including:

• Adoption and effective implementation of a village resolution to prevent child marriage.

• Establishment and active functioning of a village-level Child Protection Committee.

• Complete prevention of marriages involving girls under 18 and boys under 21 over the past five years.

• Conducting thorough surveys and documentation confirming no child marriages occurred.

• Verification of the age of prospective bride and groom before marriage with written certificates.

• Reintegrating out-of-school children into the educational system.

• Implementing impactful awareness campaigns and skill development programs at the village level.

"My village is a child marriage-free village."

Our Udaan Project aims to make all villages in the Ahilyanagar district free of child marriage by 2027.Rui Chhattishi’s success exemplifies what can be achieved when community resolve aligns with structured efforts. Our team congratulated the villagers for their unwavering commitment and urged anyone facing challenges to contact the Udaan helpline for support.

Free helpline numbers 9011026495 and 9011098008

The Honorary Director of Udaan, Advocate Bageshri Jarandikar, emphasised the legal framework:

"Before any marriage, it is mandatory to verify that the bride is at least 18 and the groom at least 21. Failure to do so can result in legal consequences."

Village Sarpanch, Vilas Lokhande, Deputy Sarpanch, Asha Wale, Anganwadi worker, Sonu Raut, and many other villagers shared their experiences, acknowledging that the collective efforts of the Panchayat, Child Protection Committees and allied programs led to this success.

Inspiring the Future: A Call to Action

This achievement is not only a matter of pride but also a clarion call for other villages to follow suit. The campaign urges other communities to draw inspiration from Rui Chhattishi’s example, adopt the necessary measures, and achieve the coveted status of a child marriage-free village.

The entire initiative is guided by the visionary leadership of our Founder, Dr Girish Kulkarni, and District Extension Officer, Chandrakant Khade. Their mentorship has been instrumental in spreading awareness and mobilizing efforts across the district.

A Model for Others

This event underscores that with collective will, effective planning, and community participation, the vision of a child marriage-free society is attainable. Rui Chhattishi's example stands as a beacon of hope and a blueprint for villages nationwide to emulate.

Let us celebrate this victory and strive to create safer, healthier futures for our children—because every child deserves a childhood free from the shackles of early marriage.

Together, we can make every village in India a child marriage-free zone.