‘Kishori Clubs’ (adolescent girls’ groups) formed under Population Foundation of India’s Advocacy, Communication and Accountability (ACA) programme have been successful in creating a community of nearly 3,000 champions for equal rights across 292 villages of Bihar. The girls have been counselled on the effects of child marriage and its linkages to early and unplanned pregnancies, poor health, denial of education and reduced livelihood choices. As a result, the girls mobilised and were able to prevent 92 child marriages in their villages in the Nawada and Darbhanga districts of Bihar by convincing the parents; if that failed, they raised the alarm with law enforcers, often encircling the wedding venue.
