Building children’s agenda: Political parties should consider children as equal citizens

Political parties should organise consultations with children, parents and child-focused groups to increase trust and understand issues better

Making Odisha child-marriage free — an optimistic view

People have questioned the process of declaring villages child-marriage free

Law Commission Report on age of consent missed opportunity to de-criminalise sex between minors

The Law Commission’s recommendation would put married girls of 15-18 years at greater risk of marital rape, as there would be no legal …

Why Assam’s drive will weaken the movement against child marriage

Over-emphasis on prosecution, like in Assam, will not bring any sustainable change when the issue is deeply rooted in culture and social norms

Counselling, social security measures may improve lives of adolescent mothers

Odisha’s Subarnapur district’s ‘Sanjivanee – the new life’ scheme is a slice of relief as it ensures …

Dear Minister, here is proof India’s children suffered during COVID-19 lockdown

Accepting that there was a great disruption in the lives of Indian children will pave the way to make rectification measures more effective

Why children of incarcerated parents need special attention

The new guidelines issued by the women and child development department of Odisha for children of incarcerated parents has brought a child-…

Despite intention, why Odisha villages are failing to keep their girls in school

Infrastructural improvement will need to follow laws passed to empower women, say experts

Raising legal age of marriage for girls: Change in legislation without education won’t bring gender equality

Bringing at par the ages of two genders is considered as an indicator of gender parity; so the legal age of boys for marriage can be …

Time and support are of the essence in preventing child marriages

Rescuing a child in time, followed by regular monitoring of her kin and providing her with support, will ensure she is not again forced into such …

The story of 114 Odisha villages becoming child-marriage free begins with a small victory in Rugudipali

The villagers have also created an enabling environment for adolescents so that they can continue their education

Children's Day amid COVID-19: Pandemic has made life tougher for disadvantaged kids

Children have been exposed to illegal marriages, trafficking, labour, food insecurity and have seen a sharpening of inquality due to COVID-19

Sexual abuse in child marriage: Legal framework, anomalies and the way forward

Sphere of child rights, especially rights of the girl child, needs ample protection and care by the state through legislation

Should minimum age for marriage of girls be raised to 21

A legal amendment will not be enough; an environment should be created for female children to realise their dreams

Ending child marriage, beyond slogans

Nirmala Sitharaman's Union Budget 2020-21 speech proposed a task force to review minimum age of marriage for women; child marriage is widely …