NITI Aayog has partnered with the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA) to spearhead a
groundbreaking initiative to protect, empower, and educate children across 73 districts in 12 states. This collaboration was formalised through a Statement of Intent (SoI) in New Delhi, which sought to declare 15,000 villages in 104 blocks ‘Child Marriage Free’ within a year. The initiative aligns with the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP), launched in 2018 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to transform India’s most underdeveloped regions.
The two-year partnership will focus on creating safe and empowering environments for children by addressing critical issues such as child labour, trafficking, and child marriage. It will also work to strengthen the education ecosystem in underserved regions, ensuring that vulnerable and out-of-school children are connected to educational and skill development opportunities.
In a significant step forward, movement and marriage registers will be established at the Panchayat level across targeted villages to monitor and prevent child marriage and trafficking. To ensure holistic support, at-risk families will also be linked to existing government social welfare schemes.
At the event, Dhananjay Tingal, Executive Director of AVA, expressed optimism about the partnership’s potential. “We are filled with immense pride and gratitude today as we take a significant step forward in empowering the most vulnerable sections of our society. With collaborated efforts, we aim to make these blocks child marriage-free by 2025 and set a precedent for others. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to protecting every child’s right to safety, education, and dignity,” he said.
A flagship component of the initiative is the establishment of Surakshit Bal Gram, a model developed by the Just Rights for Children (JRC), of which AVA is a key member. This network of over 200 civil society organizations operates across 416 districts in 26 states and focuses on combating crimes against children, including child marriage, trafficking, and labour.
Under the collaboration, NITI Aayog will engage state governments, central ministries, and other stakeholders to support child protection efforts at district, block, and village levels. AVA will focus on identifying vulnerable families, ensuring timely interventions through district administration, and creating a robust real-time database to track progress.
Additionally, India Child Protection, an associate organisation of AVA specialising in addressing child exploitation and trafficking in digital spaces, will provide strategic support. Their role will include research, training, and monitoring to enhance the project’s effectiveness.
The partnership also emphasises capacity building for local child protection committees and Anganwadi workers while mobilising communities to create a lasting impact. By integrating government welfare schemes with grassroots initiatives, the collaboration aims to transform targeted villages into safe havens for children, free from exploitation.
This bold initiative underscores the collective commitment of government bodies, civil society organisations, and communities to protect children’s rights and ensure their access to safety, education, and dignity. As efforts unfold, the partnership is expected to serve as a model for other regions, demonstrating the power of collaborative action in safeguarding the future of India’s children.
