Child marriage is one of the oldest and most persistent social practices in India. Despite decades of progress in education, gender equality, and economic growth, this tradition still continues in many parts of the country — often hidden behind cultural acceptance and poverty. What makes it especially concerning is that it directly affects the health,...

In today’s rapidly changing world, the mental health of children has emerged as one of the most critical yet least discussed aspects of overall well-being. While conversations around mental health have increased in the past decade, children’s mental health often remains overshadowed by academic achievements, physical growth, and social pressures. The World Health Organization (WHO)...

The introduction sets the stage by highlighting a real and pressing social issue in India—gender inequality, especially in access to education for girls. It emphasizes that, in many parts of the country, girls still struggle to receive equal opportunities simply because of their gender. However, education is presented as a key solution to break this...

Children are the architects of our future. Their safety, mental and physical well-being, and awareness of the world around them are not just important—they’re foundational. Recognizing the need to nurture informed, resilient, and confident children, a series of community-level awareness sessions were recently held across various project areas in India. These sessions focused on issues...

India, with its rich cultural heritage and diverse demographics, has long placed significant emphasis on the family unit and its societal values. Among the many groups that make up the Indian populace, the single girl child is one that has often been overlooked or underestimated. However, with changing times, there has been growing recognition of...

The Children of India Foundation (CIF) recently concluded a district-level Outcome Harvesting Workshop as part of the completion of our second year of initiatives under Project Children Good. The three-day Outcome Harvesting Festival was held from May 8th to 10th, 2024, at the Don Bosco Provincial House in Bangalore to capture and evaluate the outcomes...

Good news from our Children GOOD project! Shilpi was a bubbly young girl who enjoyed drawing, dancing, and reading. She aspires to be a teacher and educate the children in her community. Her dreams were quickly shattered when reality hit her. She was forced to work as a sex worker after puberty by casually stating...

One of the oldest traditions that India has seen is the Devadasi system. It involves a ritual in which young girls, usually before puberty, are married off or dedicated to deities. It has been infamous for the sexual exploitation and discrimination against the girls and women.  Some may think that it’s an issue of the...

15-year-old Nandini would stand at the bus stop in her blue checkered tunic and red tie eagerly waiting to hop on the bus, see her friends and recite poems with them on the way. Every day she looked forward to sitting at the window seat on the bus from where she would see the birds-...

In December, at Bangalore’s Vidhana Sabha, together with the State Ministry of Women & Child Development and Ministry of Social Welfare, we held a consultation with devadasi women, children of devadasi representatives from non-governmental organizations, the Child Rights Commission and the Women Development Corporation to discuss issues pertaining to the Devadasis. The Devadasi system is...