Bhubaneswar: Society for Enlightenment and Voluntary Action (SEVA), an Odisha-based NGO and the Child Marriage Free India (CMFI), in an event held here Monday, hailed the Supreme Court’s newly issued guidelines aimed at eliminating child marriage by 2030.
The event was attended by key stakeholders, who praised the judgment for placing accountability on local communities and institutions such as Panchayats and schools. “The guidelines reflect the work we’ve been doing for years as part of the CMFI campaign. We are thrilled to see this level of legal backing, which will amplify our efforts to create child marriage-free villages across India,” SEVA director Alaka Sahu said.
The event was also addressed by OSCPCR Member Sasmita Nanda and CMFI Convener Ravi Kant, both of whom highlighted the importance of the community-driven approach laid out by the court. Nanda said, “Child marriage is one of the worst forms of crime against children. The Supreme Court’s directive will ensure every village focuses on the education and empowerment of children, preventing them from becoming victims of this practice.”
Ravi Kant shared how the new guidelines already align with the CMFI campaign’s strategies. “We have been implementing a similar approach for years under our PICKET strategy, and this court judgment only strengthens our mission. Many of the Supreme Court’s recommendations are already being practiced on the ground by CMFI partners,” he said.
The Supreme Court’s guidelines stress the responsibility of local Panchayats, school authorities, and child marriage protection officers in ensuring no child marriages take place within their jurisdictions. The court emphasised that prevention, education, and community involvement are central to eliminating child marriage, with legal prosecution being used only as a last resort.
The guidelines were issued following a petition filed by SEVA and CMFI coalition partner Nirmal Gorana. The court has also encouraged state governments to launch “Child Marriage Free Village” initiatives across India—a model CMFI has already successfully piloted in over 50,000 villages. At the press conference, SEVA and CMFI representatives pointed to their success in preventing over 120,000 child marriages.
They stressed that the coalition’s PICKET strategy—covering Policy, Institution, Collaboration, Knowledge, Ecosystem, and Technology— has been instrumental in building awareness and empowering communities to take action. “The court’s guidelines will provide much-needed support and visibility to the efforts of over 200 NGOs working as part of CMFI,” said Alaka Sahu.
“The judgment will not only help us protect more children, but it also gives a boost to our mission of making India child marriage-free by 2030,” she added. Activists Alaka Sahu and Nirmal Gorana were felicitated on the occasion.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP