From Akshaya Tritiya 2024 to 2025: Rajasthan Leads the Fight for Child Marriage Free Future

The countdown to Akshaya Tritiya or Akha Teej has begun. Almost the same time last year, the Rajasthan High Court had struck the gavel and made a landmark decision on child marriages in the state. Ahead of Akshaya Tritiya, a festival often dulled by the prominence of child marriages in the state, the Rajasthan High Court ruled that village heads (Sarpanch) would be accountable for any child marriages occurring in their jurisdictions. This order, while hearing a petition of Just Rights for Children (JRC) Alliance, with one stroke, found a way to make the village heads take responsibility and accountability. The result was phenomenal. Unlike earlier years, no cases of child marriage were reported in the state in 2024 during this period.

One year has gone by. Once again, people are gearing up for Akshaya Tritiya which falls on 30th April this year, but so are the administration, police personnel, village heads, and civil society in Rajasthan and other states to brace themselves for a surge in the clandestinely performed child marriages.

Rajasthan has been quite infamous on the country’s map for its child marriage rate of 25.4 per cent, and the fact that the majority of these marriages occur on Akshaya Tritiya has been an open secret. But truth be told, the state has now been at the forefront in correcting these wrongs and fixing what remained skewed in the issue of child marriage. In the last year itself, the state government and the judiciary have taken proactive steps in combatting child marriage instead of hiding behind the excuse of it being an integral weave of the social fabric. 

*When Rajasthan HC Took Charge*

The Rajasthan High Court issued a significant order directing the state government to ensure that no child marriages take place in the state ahead of Akshaya Tritiya on May 1, 2024. The petition was filed by the JRC alliance, a network of over 250 NGOs working in 416 districts across the country for child protection and child rights. 

The High Court directed the state government to ensure that no child marriage takes place in the state and said village heads and panchayat members will be held accountable if they are solemnised. 

This was a massive step in the fight against child marriage as the village heads and panchayat members who are often in the know of such incidents were now answerable for even a single child marriage in their village.

One can safely say that at the administrative level, this order started the ball rolling for Child Marriage Free Rajasthan. Giving further push to the momentum, the Supreme Court, once again hearing a petition filed by JRC partners, issued guidelines to prevent child marriages across the country in October 2024. Within a month, the Government of India also launched a ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign in November 2024. 

A social crime that had remained an integral part of India’s social system was finally being shredded in all dimensions. 

*From Akshaya Tritiya 2024 to 2025*

While the High Court order marked a significant step to preventing child marriage, one needs to understand that laws alone are not enough to ensure an end to child marriage in India. Laws that prohibit child marriage have existed for years but the prevalence of this crime has remained undeterred. 

So Rajasthan Government went a step ahead and formulated new strategies that would make the change plausible and effective. In March 2025, the government directed the printing presses to get the age proof of the bride and groom from the concerned families and print the date of birth of both on invitation cards. The mandatory inclusion of birth dates on wedding cards is a policy that could create ripples far beyond its intended scope and serve as an automatic deterrent for families trying to marry off their children.

Besides increased scrutiny from relatives, neighbours, and even vendors involved in the wedding preparations, this would give law enforcement and child rights activists an immediate tool to intervene before the marriage takes place. 

Meanwhile, the JRC partners working in the deepest folds of the state have ensured that awareness about the consequences of child marriage reaches every household and every child. From putting up posters and slogans in places of worship (and marriage) such as temples, mosques etc to reaching out to schools to spread awareness and pledges, these NGOs have left no stone unturned in the fight. 

With Akshaya Tritiya less than a month away, the threat of children being forced into marriage looms large once again. However, beyond civil society’s relentless efforts, the government is also stepping up its game. The state’s Education Department has directed all joint directors to formulate a comprehensive action plan to prevent child marriages this year. According to a report in The Times of India, the plan mandates the activation of core groups comprising women’s organizations, health workers, Mahila Suraksha Sakhis, and Sathin Sahyogis at district and block levels—ensuring a multi-tiered response to tackle the issue head-on. The department has also directed that all the key stakeholders, including confectioners, band players, priests, tent owners and transporters should essentially be asked to take a pledge to refrain from supporting child marriage.

These coordinated efforts demonstrate that tackling child marriage requires more than just legal prohibitions—it demands a multi-pronged approach involving strict enforcement, community participation, and proactive policy measures. By involving women’s organizations, health workers, and grassroots groups, Rajasthan is not just cracking down on offenders but also fostering a cultural shift against child marriage.

However, while these initiatives mark significant progress, sustained vigilance is crucial. The true test lies in consistent implementation and extending these measures nationwide. As Akshaya Tritiya 2025 approaches, Rajasthan stands as a model for other states to emulate. The battle against child marriage is far from over, but with unwavering commitment, India moves one step closer to its goal to become Child Marriage Free by 2030.

Author: Rakesh Kumar Kaushik, Director, Rajasthan Mahila Kalyan Mandal, Ajmer