The project is carried out for the care and protection of children across India by the Kailash Satyarthi Foundation for Children (US). This project is being carried out by SPARSH in Gadchiroli district. In India, child marriage is still a common problem that deprives children of their innocence and exposes them to terrible atrocities.
The National Family Health Survey of late found that a startling 23.3% of girls in the 20–24 age range were married off before they turned 18. This indicates that even in the modern era, about one in four girls are coerced into becoming child brides.SPARSH has been actively working on critical issues in the prevention of child marriage, child sexual abuse, and illegal human trafficking.
SPARSH, in collaboration with Kailash Satyarthi children foundation are dedicated to improving the lives of children through the workshop, raising awareness campaigns, rescue operations, and establishing of village child protection committee in the Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.
SPARSH celebrated June as the month of action against child labor with support from the Kailash Satyarthi Children Foundation. On the occasion of the International Day Against Child Labour on 12th June 2023, a joint rescue operation is carried out involving the District Women and Child Development Office, District Child Protection Unit, District Police Force, and Child Line.
The joint rescue operation plan was successfully executed in the Gadchiroli and Wadasa, resulting in the rescue of 31 children. The rescued children were subsequently submitted to the Child Welfare Committee, Gadchiroli.
Awareness programs about child marriages, child sexual abuse, and child trafficking are being conducted in the village Panchayats of Gadchiroli, Dhanora, Chamorshi, and Mulchera Block.
An Oath-taking event against child marriages has been organized to eradicate this undesirable practice, involving students from schools and colleges, Gram Panchayat employees, members of the Gram Sabha, village citizens, government office employees, etc. Around 26,000 people took the oath against child marriage in the event programs conducted by SPARSH in the past three and half months.