Tuesday, October 08, 2024

Shruti Nagvanshi: Championing a Multi-Sectoral Approach to End Child Marriage in India

Shruti Nagvanshi, a prominent Indian human rights activist and advocate for women’s and children’s rights, emphasizes the importance of a multi-sectoral approach to effectively combat the issue of child marriage. As the founder and leader of the NGO Jan Mitra Nyas, Nagvanshi works tirelessly to support marginalized and excluded communities across India. Her efforts focus on ensuring that vulnerable groups, especially women and children, have access to education and essential services.

A Multi-Sectoral Approach is Key

According to Nagvanshi, ending child marriage cannot be achieved through isolated efforts. Instead, it requires the collaboration of multiple sectors, including education, healthcare, law enforcement, and community development. She highlights that empowering families, particularly in marginalized communities, through education is critical to breaking the cycle of early marriage.

“Only education and access to education can truly eradicate child marriage,” Nagvanshi asserts. She argues that when children, especially girls, are provided with quality education and opportunities to stay in school, they are more likely to delay marriage and pursue their own ambitions.

The Role of Education in Empowerment

At the heart of Nagvanshi’s advocacy is the belief that education is the most powerful tool in preventing child marriage. She notes that in many parts of India, particularly among marginalized groups like the Musahar community, girls are often forced into early marriages due to poverty, lack of education, and social pressures. By providing girls with access to education, the chances of them being married off at a young age are significantly reduced.

Nagvanshi’s NGO, Jan Mitra Nyas, plays a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of marginalized groups, ensuring that they receive the support they need to live dignified lives. Through direct engagement with these communities, her organization works to raise awareness about the harmful impacts of child marriage and the importance of education as a pathway to empowerment.

The Musahar Community's Struggle

Focusing on the Musahar community, one of the most deprived and vulnerable groups in India, Nagvanshi states that it will take at least 15 years of sustained effort to fully eliminate the practice of child marriage. The Musahar community, often overlooked in mainstream development initiatives, faces significant challenges, including extreme poverty, lack of access to education, and social discrimination.

Nagvanshi believes that by targeting such communities with a multi-pronged approach—emphasizing education, health, legal protections, and community empowerment—India can make meaningful progress in ending child marriage and ensuring that all children have the opportunity to pursue their potential.

A Call to Action

Shruti Nagvanshi’s work is a reminder that solving deeply rooted societal issues like child marriage requires a comprehensive strategy involving various sectors. Her advocacy underscores the urgency of ensuring that marginalized communities, especially girls, have access to education and support systems that enable them to thrive.

By investing in education and creating awareness about the harmful consequences of child marriage, Nagvanshi and her team at Jan Mitra Nyas are paving the way for a brighter, more equitable future for India’s children.

Read more about Shruti Nagvanshi’s efforts and the multi-sectoral approach to ending child marriage in India: Click here.

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