Udaipur – In a powerful stand against the scourge of child marriage, the quaint hamlet of Darouli Gram Panchayat in Rajasthan's Vallabh Nagar tehsil transformed into a beacon of hope on Thursday. Echoing the revolutionary lines from a popular folk song- "Let the torches be lit, the people of my village march on; now the darkness will be defeated by the people of my village" hundreds of villagers, women, youth, and children gathered at Shri Yade Devi Temple grounds for a massive awareness and pledge event.

Organized under the joint aegis of Gayatri Seva Sansthan and the Just Rights for Children Network, in support of the Ministry of Women and Child Development's "Child Marriage Free India" campaign, the program marked the launch of a 100-day intensive public awareness drive.

The event culminated in a grand torch march (mashal yatra), symbolizing enlightenment over ignorance, where participants took a collective oath to prevent any child marriage in the village under any circumstances. The electric energy among the crowd, especially the enthusiastic youth and children, underscored a generational shift: the new India refuses to tolerate this age-old evil.

Chief guest Manan Chaturvedi, former Rajasthan state minister and ex-chairperson of the Rajasthan Child Rights Commission, addressed the gathering with a clarion call. "Child marriage is an injustice to children's futures. We must collectively wipe this stain from society," she declared. Emphasizing the need to prioritize girls' education and safety, Chaturvedi praised the efforts of Gayatri Seva Sansthan and Just Rights for Children Network. "Society must now stand united against child marriage, embracing change for a brighter tomorrow."

Presiding over the event, Dr. Shailendra Pandya, director of Gayatri Seva Sansthan and a child rights expert, highlighted the deeper implications. "Child marriage isn't just a social evil, it's a violation of children's fundamental rights," he stated. "A society progresses only when it empowers its children to be safe, educated, and strong. Our resolve is to make this area child marriage-free within a year. Through this 100-day campaign, we'll reach every village, neighborhood, and family, strengthening youth groups and women's leadership."

Pandya revealed that network-affiliated organizations had successfully prevented over 100,000 child marriages across India last year alone, a testament to the power of collective action. The campaign will focus on sensitizing communities to the harmful effects of child marriage on health, education, and childhood, while building grassroots support.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Chetna Bhati stressed the role of community-police synergy. "Preventing child marriages requires not just law enforcement but active community involvement. Every family must become a partner in this mission," she urged.

Yashoda Pania, chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, added a poignant note: "Child marriage robs children of their childhood, education, and health. Stopping it is every citizen's duty."

Local sarpanch Roda Lal sealed the commitment with a bold pledge: "If any child marriage is reported in our panchayat, we will act immediately." He extended thanks to all dignitaries, including local representatives, officials, Vivek Paliwal, Surajmal, and Mukesh, who attended in large numbers.