Child marriage is a critical issue in India, where millions of girls are married off before they reach the age of 18, making India home to the largest number of child brides in the world. This practice not only violates the rights of girls but also deprives them of education, health, and opportunities for personal growth. Several NGOs are at the forefront of tackling this issue, working tirelessly to prevent child marriage through advocacy, education, and empowerment.

1.    Milaan Foundation

Milaan Foundation works towards creating an equal world for girls by addressing issues like gender-based violence, education inequality, and child marriage. Through its “Girl Icon Program,” the organization identifies, trains, and empowers adolescent girls to become change-makers in their communities. By supporting girls in becoming leaders and role models, Milaan helps to delay marriage and encourage education, thus breaking the cycle of early marriage. An independent impact evaluation of the program, conducted by Verian Group in 2023, found that Milaan was able to reduce child marriage rates to less than 1% within the intervention communities.

2.    Educate Girls

Educate Girls is an NGO that focuses on improving access to education for girls in rural and marginalized communities. By promoting the importance of education and empowering girls to stay in school, the organization aims to reduce the incidence of child marriage. Educate Girls partners with local governments and communities to increase enrollment, retention, and learning outcomes for girls, ensuring they have the opportunity to complete their education and delay marriage.

3. Breakthrough

Breakthrough is a human rights organization that uses innovative media and grassroots interventions to change cultural norms around gender equality. Breakthrough’s campaigns aim to shift attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate child marriage. Through community engagement, educational programs, and mass media, Breakthrough empowers young people to stand up against child marriage, encouraging conversations about the negative consequences of this practice and advocating for girls’ rights to education and choice.

4. CRY (Child Rights and You)

CRY is one of India’s most well-known child rights organizations. It works on a variety of issues affecting children, including child marriage. CRY uses a rights-based approach, working with underprivileged children, their families, and communities to prevent early marriage and ensure that children are protected from harmful practices. The organization advocates for stronger policies and enforcement of child protection laws while promoting education as a critical tool in keeping girls safe from marriage.

5. Girls Not Brides

Girls Not Brides is a global network of organizations committed to ending child marriage. With a strong presence in India, Girls Not Brides works with local and national partners to advocate for policy changes, create awareness, and implement community-driven solutions. The network supports collaborative initiatives that empower girls, educate communities about the dangers of child marriage, and provide alternative opportunities for young girls to thrive, free from early marriage

These organizations are playing pivotal roles in combating child marriage by empowering girls through education, advocacy, and community engagement. Their efforts are ensuring that girls have the opportunity to grow, learn, and build a future free from early marriage and its associated challenges.