Child Protection

At Rajsamand Jan Vikas Sansthan (RJVS), child protection is a key initiative and is the core of our mission. We believe in building a protective and empowered environment for children& youth, especially adolescent girls, by creating awareness, promoting education, involving & transforming the parents / community towards mitigation and eradication of harmful practices with preventive and proactive actions leading to safe childhood.

Our efforts focus on mitigating child marriages, which are highly prevalent in the district and are violation of human rights , ensuring the re-enrollment of dropout children to school, and strengthening the Government initiated Panchayat monitored village-level child protection committees (CPCs) with imparting of training and building their capacity. In addition, RJVS with the support is monitoring vulnerable girls likely to be married early and tracking them regularly though our field workers and CPC & its ward members.

Since 1998, RJVS has successfully prevented more than 9000 child marriages, protecting thousands of girls from the lifelong adverse consequences of Child / early marriage. These interventions were made possible through collective action involving primarily girls, while including boys , women, families, local panchayats, and local governance authorities. To address the root causes, we empower the adolescent girls and boys, identifying and tracking of vulnerable girls, build capacity of girls / boys through trainings/ workshops on relevant subjects, implement interactive community sessions, hold Father and daughter workshops,educating cast leaders, organize awareness rallies,, and village-level dialogues (Outreach) highlighting the legal, physical, health related and emotional impacts of child marriage for adolescents especially for girls.

Participation of Adolescent Girls in Decision-Making :

Such words are still commonly heard in many families, where adolescent girls are completely excluded or their decisions about their own lives are not heard / respected — whether they should go to school/ study further or when they should get married — all such decisions are made by elders, rarely asking the girls themselves.

RJVS took the first step to give voice to these voiceless daughters by forming adolescent girls’ groups across villages and began building their confidence through capacity building measures, especially focussing on the power of negotiations with parents . We empowered them that making their own decisions about their lives in the areas of education, marriage and livelihood is not a privilege but it’s their right.

Through regular sessions, intense interactions and open dialogues, girls were made aware about key issues like child marriage, the importance of education and how it is likely to impact their health, safety, and their future life..

Gradually, the girls began to stand up for themselves. Many of them negotiated and convinced their families and communities that they didn’t want to get married- they wanted to continue their education.

They are no longer silent spectators for their own lives- they are now becoming decision-makers, leaders, and changemakers.

RJVS also works to protect children from all forms of exploitation — including child labour, trafficking, and sexual abuse. By identifying vulnerable children and rescuing them from labour, we help reintegrate them into schools while supporting their families through welfare linkages. In trafficking-prone areas, RJVS has set up community surveillance systems and conducted awareness campaigns to detect and prevent unsafe migration. Through the POCSO Act framework, we raise awareness on safe and unsafe touch, reporting mechanisms, and legal rights, while also providing survivors with medical, legal, and emotional support. Trained adolescent leaders and CPC members serve as trusted frontline responders.

Our Key Interventions:

 Strengthening Child Protection Committees (CPCs): RJVS has built capacities of CPCs in more than 15 Gram Panchayats and the process continues to act as local watchdogs for children's rights. These committees are now the first responders in cases of risk, ensuring early intervention and community accountability. In 2024–25 alone, 150+ CPC members were given specialized training on child safety, legal processes, and social responsibility.

 Health of Young Married Women: RJVS pays special attention to young women who were married at an early age and are in the early stages of their married lives/ pregnancy. These women often face serious challenges related to pregnancy, malnutrition, and mental stress due to their age and social /family circumstances.

 Research on Child Marriage: RJVS, in collaboration with Simavi, conducted a research study on child marriage in Rajsamand district. The study revealed multiple underlying factors contributing to adolescent sexuality and child marriage in the region. To provide deeper insights and evidence-based understanding, we have published a comprehensive research book on this subject, available for reading in the Resources section of our website.
In 2004–2005, Rajsamand Jan Vikas Sansthan (RJVS) conducted a comprehensive survey and research study on the prevalence and causes of child marriage in Rajsamand district. The aim of the study was to uncover the ground realities, social and economic factors, and long-term impacts of child marriage, in order to develop effective strategies for its prevention.
As part of the research, RJVS teams visited multiple villages, conducting interviews and community discussions with parents, adolescents, and local leaders. The study revealed that poverty, deep-rooted social customs, concerns over girls’ safety, and lack of access to education were the leading drivers of child marriage.
Based on the findings, RJVS laid the foundation for programs focused on preventing child marriage, raising awareness, and empowering adolescent girls through education and leadership development — efforts that continue to remain at the core of the organization’s work today.