Maintaining an open channel of communication between the people and the government is essential. Kishori Leaders belonging to the Devadasi community, who advocate for change and 31 duty bearers from Kugidi, Karnataka, including Taluk Legal Service Authority members, Anganwadi supervisors, ASHA workers, the Child Development Project Officer, and others, participated in a dialogue hosted by...

Though the Devadasi practice was outlawed nearly one hundred years ago, in 1924, it continues to exist in certain parts of the country due to continuous underreporting and its underground nature. The Devadasi system is the “offering” of girl children, after which they become sex workers.  The Devadasi Security Act of 1934 makes this practice...

Child marriage in India is a major societal issue that continues to persist. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many children have been out of school and their families have been left in precarious financial situations. This leaves children, especially young girls, vulnerable to being married off and not allowed to continue their education. This kind...

Ten million additional child marriages may occur before the end of the decade, threatening years of progress in reducing the practice, according to an analysis released by UNICEF. It is no shocker that the COVID-19 Pandemic has further elevated the number of children being exploited, as many took the opportunity of getting their children married...

1.5 Million. 1.5 million girls in India (according to UNICEF) under the age of 18 are made to get married, which unfortunately makes India home to the largest number of child brides. It’s an evil practice that must be put to a stop. We at CIF work to stop practices such as this that are...

On November 1, 2021, Child Marriage Prohibition Day was observed in the Bagalkote, Chikkaballapura, and Chamarajanagara districts under the IMAGE Next project. The rally, as well as other extracurricular events, were held to raise awareness and raise voices against child marriage. Officials from the government were honored and invited as special guests to the event....

Outcome Harvesting is a project assessment and mapping approach that brings real and tangible change between children, the community, government officials, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).  On October 21st and 22nd, one such process was carried out for our project, IMAGE which focuses on the empowerment of child marriage victims across 15 districts of Karnataka. ...

As the state government of Karnataka announced the reopening of schools, 7-year-old Anitha is filled with joy. Joy not just to meet her friends who she hasn’t met in two years but the joy to see the opportunity of getting an education, unlike her two elder sisters who were forced into child marriage when the...

I have been physically assaulted by my in-laws so many times that I have lost count”, says adolescent Raghavi* from a village in Belagavi, India. Married at the age of twelve, Raghavi began facing abuse during the time of her first pregnancy. She was just 15 then. “The first time my mother-in-law beat me was...