To get people’s attention on the issue of rising child marriages during the pandemic, Children of India’s IMAGE project displayed wall paintings in villages in Karnataka, India.
These villages are known for their high incidence of child marriages, where girls as young as 14 tie the knot and their education and dreams come to a standstill which makes way for a life of exploitation. The pandemic and the subsequent lockdown only worsened the situation.
The wall paintings are spread across a portion of a public wall with messages in the local language, Kannada.
The paintings speak about laws and acts against child marriage, slogans on child rights, and a child marriage free society. A Childline number is also mentioned along with a local helpline in case anyone requires support.