'Hamari Pahal' on child marriage: New wind of change led by youth

The energy of youth in Rajsamand district of Rajasthan is now taking strong steps towards change in the society. Under the “Hamari Pahal” campaign, a two-day capacity building workshop was organized at the office of Rajsamand Jan Vikas Sansthan with the aim of making people aware of the evils like child marriage and forced marriage. This initiative has been taken in association with Girls Not Brides Rajasthan State Partnership. The aim of the workshop was not only to educate the youth about the challenges of child marriage, but also to teach them how they can become agents of change in their society. The program focused on education, understanding of the social protection scheme, creating a safe environment and strategies to unite the community. The youth received “training for change”. This workshop was conducted under the guidance of District Director Shankulatapmecha. Project Manager of Sukoon Project, Preeti Sharma and representative of Girls Not Brides Rajasthan State Secretariat (KALPA) Rajan imparted practical training to the youth. During the sessions, participants experienced learning through group activities, discussions and practical exercises. These included: Campaign management techniques Data collection and risk assessment Organization of awareness programs at panchayat level At the end of the workshop, the youth were given the opportunity to prepare individual action plans for further activities in their respective areas under the “Hamari Pahal” campaign. This training empowered them to bring about change at the local level and actively fight against the evil practice of child marriage. The slogan “No Child Marriage, Yes Education” resounded. The most inspiring moment of the workshop came when all the participants released the “Hamari Pahal” campaign poster of District Collector Arun Kumar Hasija. On this occasion, the youth pledged to work together against this evil practice in their villages and communities with the slogan “No Child Marriage, Yes Education”. Collector Hasija said that in a state like Rajasthan, where traditions are very deep, youth is the biggest force for change. He appealed to the youth to make “Hamari Pahal” not just a campaign but a mass movement. Her message was clear: “If the youth are determined, it is not impossible to eliminate social evils like child marriage. Providing education and equal opportunities to every girl should be our common goal.” Share this story Tags