Hyderabad: Child marriage prevention efforts in Telangana received a major boost after the Women and Child Welfare Department signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Taruni Foundation.
The partnership aims to curb child marriages and minor pregnancies across the state.
Women and Child Welfare Minister Danasari Anasuya Seethakka oversaw the signing ceremony at the Secretariat.
Women and Child Welfare Secretary Anita Ramachandran, Director Shruti Ojha and Taruni Foundation founders Mamatha Raghuveer and Raghuveer attended the event.
Taruni Foundation has worked for nearly two decades on girls’ empowerment, child marriage prevention and anti-human trafficking initiatives.
Child marriage prevention campaign to reach grassroots level
Speaking on the occasion, Seethakka said child marriage is not merely a family issue.
Instead, it is a social problem that affects the future of girls.
She said child marriages often disrupt education and create serious health risks.
Moreover, they weaken the economic independence of young girls.
The minister said the government is conducting awareness campaigns under the slogan “Child Marriage Stops Lives”.
Additionally, she called for wider outreach through social media platforms.
Seethakka said the government has already launched several initiatives to prevent child marriages and minor pregnancies.
Now, with support from Taruni Foundation, these efforts will expand further across the state.
The department plans to conduct awareness programmes from the village level to the state level.
These programmes will educate girls about their rights, health, education and safety.
Furthermore, officials will organise specialised training programmes for Anganwadi workers, supervisors, CDPOs and other field-level personnel.
The department will also use digital platforms to highlight the harmful effects of child marriages.
In addition, awareness campaigns will focus on the risks associated with minor pregnancies.
Seethakka said the government gives top priority to girls’ education, health and empowerment.
Therefore, government agencies, voluntary organisations and communities must work together to eliminate child marriages, she said.
Meanwhile, Taruni Foundation founder Mamatha Raghuveer said the organisation would provide technical support, awareness programmes and training initiatives in partnership with the state government.