Project Shree Jan Jeevan Kalyan Sansthan (SJJKS)

Shri Jan Jeevan Kalyan Sanstha has been diligently working for the past three years in Alwar district. In 2019, when the organization initiated its efforts, the prevalence of child marriages in the community was alarmingly high, ranging from 25% to 30%. However, after two years of dedicated work, a significant transformation took place in the community mindset, resulting in a drop in the child marriage rate to approximately 15% to 20%. Since then, the community’s mindset has continued to evolve positively, with a newfound emphasis on the importance of girl child education. Notably, in the past six months, not a single child marriage has occurred in the village.

Several key factors have contributed to this decline in child marriages:

Engaging with women, teenagers, and adolescent groups through meetings where the detrimental consequences of child marriage were discussed at length. Moreover, the importance of education, life skills training, gender equality, and government schemes were highlighted, and individuals were connected to these programs to receive the associated benefits.
Establishing an open school to cater to boys and girls who had dropped out of school. Remedial classes and support for re-admission were provided to enable these children to complete their education and steer clear of child marriages.
Establishing effective communication channels with the SMC (School Management Committee), stakeholders, and villagers themselves. Meetings were held to foster understanding and cooperation, enabling the community to grasp the organization’s perspective.
Carrying out an extensive three-year anti-child marriage campaign across all villages. As part of this campaign, individuals pledged to actively discourage child marriages and intervene whenever necessary.
Facilitating the connection between villagers and government programs, which fostered trust and compliance with the organization’s initiatives.
Encouraging a paradigm shift in parental attitudes towards education in villages. Parents have begun providing equal educational opportunities to both their sons and daughters, fostering a culture of non-discrimination.
The positive transformation in the community mindset has led to happier children who now understand the profound importance of education in shaping their lives.

Through their tireless efforts, the team has played a pivotal role in eradicating child marriages and promoting education within the Bandhedi village community. The organization’s multifaceted approach, combined with community engagement and awareness campaigns, has created a significant impact and paved the way for a brighter future for the children in this region.