Project at a glance
Supported by
The Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation of America Inc.
Location
Simdega district
Jharkhand
Reach
Over 150 villages
Child Marriage Free India campaign
Focus
Child marriage, child trafficking, child labour and child sexual abuse
About the project
Towards a child marriage free Simdega
Chotanagpur Kalyan Niketan (CKN) works on women and child development and protection, health and nutrition, education, and the protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable groups in Jharkhand.
Under this project, CKN works on child marriage, child trafficking, child labour and child sexual abuse. It has organised the Child Marriage Free India campaign in Simdega district, covering over 150 villages.
Child marriage is not just an age-old social evil but a crime against children. It violates basic human rights, limits girls’ access to education and increases their vulnerability to domestic violence, early pregnancy and malnutrition.
Child Marriage Free India
Child Marriage Free India (CMFI) is a nationwide campaign led by women leaders and a coalition of more than 160 NGOs spanning more than 300 districts. It aims to bring the prevalence of child marriage down to 5.5% by 2030, from the current national rate of 23.3% (NFHS-5).
What we do
Campaign activities
CKN works with district departments, Panchayats, police, religious leaders, schools and communities to prevent child marriage and protect children.
Akshaya Tritiya campaign
On 22 April 2023, events in Simdega reached out to religious leaders to pledge to prevent and end child marriage in their villages and districts.
June action month
An action month to rescue child labourers and make Simdega child labour free: 5 children were rescued and 4 FIRs were registered.
Child Marriage Free India event
On 16 October 2023, the campaign ran in 200 villages of Simdega with 750 women leaders and an outreach of 75,000, with the education, Panchayati Raj, child protection, JSLPS and health departments.
100-day awareness rath
With Just Rights for Children, a 100-day child marriage free awareness rath travelled Simdega, backed by boards and wall paintings at religious sites, crossroads and public buildings.
Rescue and coordination
A joint night-time operation with the Child Welfare Committee, Child Helpline and Simdega Police stopped a child marriage in Garja panchayat. Block-level child protection meetings were held in Bolba.
Faith leaders and schools
Hindu, Muslim and Christian religious leaders in Simdega pledged not to allow child marriage, and National Girl Child Day was marked in schools across the district.
Key figures
Campaign reach
From the 2023 campaign on this page and from our Annual Report 2025-26.
200
Villages in the 16 October 2023 campaign event
Campaign, October 2023
750
Women leaders in the October 2023 campaign
Campaign, October 2023
75,000
People reached in the October 2023 campaign
Campaign, October 2023
5
Children rescued from child labour, with 4 FIRs registered
June action month, 2023
521
Child marriage cases responded to
Annual Report 2025-26
449
Child marriages stopped
Annual Report 2025-26
6,160
People pledged against child marriage at 96 events
Annual Report 2025-26
5,010
Families linked to social security and essential services
Annual Report 2025-26
Photo gallery
The campaign in pictures
Stories & updates
News from the campaign
The latest stories and updates from our work on access to justice for children.
Child Labourer Rescued from Hotel on World Day Against Child Labour Under NCPCR’s Nationwide Rescue & Rehabilitation Campaign 4.0
On the occasion of the World Day Against Child Labour, a child labourer was rescued from a hotel in Thethaitangar […]
100 Days Campaign On Wheel
छोटानागपुर कल्याण निकेतन एवं जस्ट राइट्स फॉर चिल्ड्रेन्स के तत्वावधान में सिमडेगा जिले में बाल विवाह जैसी सामाजिक कुरीति के […]
छोटानागपुर कल्याण निकेतन का संकल्प, एक वर्ष में बनाएंगे बाल विवाह मुक्त सिमडेगा
भारत सरकार के 100 दिवसीय गहन अभियान के तहत सिमडेगा में बाल विवाह के खिलाफ विशेष पहल की शुरुआत CDPO […]
सिमडेगा जिले में बाल विवाह रोकथाम के लिए बोर्ड और वॉल पेंटिंग से बढ़ाई जा रही जागरूकता
बाल विवाह पर आधी रात में चला रेस्क्यू ऑपरेशन, बच्ची को बचाया गया बाल विवाह की कुप्रथा से
बाल संरक्षण पर समन्वय हेतु बोलबा प्रखंड में प्रखंड स्तरीय बैठक आयोजित
Stand with children in Simdega
Your support helps CKN stop child marriages, rescue children from labour and trafficking, and help families access justice.