Campaign for Ending Child Marriages in Tribal Villages

Brief about the project :
Child marriage does not protect or benefit a girl but it robs of her childhood and opportunities in life.
A recent study has revealed that our state of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are a strong witness to one of the highest rates of child marriage in our country compare with other states and the practice remains socially acceptable in many parts of the country. Child marriage is driven by a range of socioeconomic and cultural factors and maintained by tradition. Factors that increase the risk of child marriage in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha include poverty and fear for girls’ safety and security, as well as a complex tangle of social norms and beliefs. Social norms are of an informational nature and spread through personal interaction and networks. They prevail because of perceived or real societal pressure on individuals. Individual actions conform to the norm of the society to reduce cost of social sanction. Due to the nature of social norms, effective communication is critical in challenging and changing them when they are considered harmful as in the case of child marriage. Strategic media and communication, based on information dissemination and dialogue, can provide evidence of the impact of these norms and practices as well as the need for change; promote a new reality of the desired ‘normal’; and address perceived social pressure, beliefs and expectations through accelerating public intolerance. Our RDWS has launched a Campaign against child marriages as on 1st July 2022 is a step towards this direction.

A campaign was launched to create public awareness on Prohibition of Child Marriages Act and its provision in Vizianagaram, Srikakualam and Visakhapatnam Districts of north coastal and surrounding regions by RDWS.

The drive comes in the wake of increase in complaints of child marriages during the pandemic and hence, the district administration in Vizianagaram, Srikakualam and Visakhapatnam Districts of north coastal and surrounding regions by RDWS in association with the Village Panchayats, Youth, members of village SHGs and girls at villages schools and ashram hostel of the three districts and conducted the drive.

At our RDWS – we are conducting awareness meetings with communities at large. We are sensitising the members of SHGs and school teachers, anganwadi teachers, parents committees, young girls at various schools and ashram hostels through our advocacy programs

Beneficiaries: 3572

Project Location : Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Alluri Sitaraaraju and Parvathipuram Manyam Districts in Andhra Pradesh and Koraput, Rayagada and Gajapati Districts in Odisha, India.