Kishtwar, April 20: On the auspicious occasion of Akshaya Tritiya, Mission Vatsalya Kishtwar, in collaboration with Hilal Health Care Society (NGO) on Sunday (19th April 2026), organised a comprehensive awareness programme on Child Marriage Mukt Bharat at Dak Bungalow Kishtwar.
The programme was conducted under the directions of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Sh. Pankaj Kumar Sharma (JKAS), and under the guidance of District Child Protection Officer Kishtwar, Sh. Tariq Parveaz Qazi (JKAS).
During the event, Touseef Iqbal Butt, Protection Officer (NIC), DCPU Kishtwar, highlighted the urgent need to curb Bal Vivah (child marriage), terming it a serious social evil that continues to affect society. He emphasised that awareness initiatives like these are crucial in building a child marriage-free India.
He urged NGOs, volunteers, and community members to actively contribute at the grassroots level, stressing that meaningful change can only be achieved through collective community efforts and vigilance. He also encouraged door-to-door awareness campaigns, community interactions, and engagement with parents and youth to prevent such practices.
Butt further called for strong coordination with local leaders, Panchayat representatives, and government departments to ensure timely identification and reporting of child marriage cases.
Chairman of Hilal Health Care Society, Sh. Firdous Ahmed Baghwan, underscored the vital role of NGOs in raising awareness not only about child marriage but also about drug abuse. He stressed the importance of close coordination with government agencies to effectively address these social challenges.
He appealed to parents and youth to take collective responsibility in eliminating child marriage and safeguarding the future of children.
Among those present were executive members of the NGO, including Mohd Usman, Javed Iqbal, Rehman Ali, Aijaz Malik (Data Analyst, CWC), and Aqib Qazi (ORW, DCPU).
