Say No to Child Marriage: Varun Arjun University Joins Govt. Campaign

Varun Arjun University Organizes Awareness Program on “Child Marriage Free India”Varun Arjun University, Banthra–Shahjahanpur, hosted an impactful awareness program titled “Child Marriage Free India”, organized in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development, Shahjahanpur. The event aimed to educate students and faculty about the ill effects of child marriage and promote the Government of India’s 100-day nationwide awareness campaign against it. The program was presided over by Dr. (Col.) Ravindra Nath Shukla, Principal and Dean of Varun Arjun Medical College, while distinguished guests included Mr. Arvind Mishra (Magistrate, Women & Child Development Department), Mr. Vinay Sharma (Coordinator, Child Helpline), and Mr. Sudhir Kumar (Child Welfare Supervisor). Dr. Shivani Gupta, the university’s nodal officer for the campaign, skillfully coordinated and hosted the event.In his address, Mr. Vinay Sharma elaborated on the seriousness of child marriage, calling it not only a legal offence but also a barrier to the mental and physical development of children. He urged students to take an active role in preventing child marriages and shared details about government helplines (112, 181, 1098) and welfare schemes such as Mukhyamantri Bal Seva Yojana and Mukhyamantri Sumangala Yojana. Mr. Arvind Mishra, in his inspirational speech, highlighted that child marriage persists mainly in rural areas and emphasized the role of education, awareness drives, and youth participation in eliminating this social evil. He invoked reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Dayanand Saraswati as examples of visionaries who fought for women’s rights and education.Towards the conclusion, participants took an oath led by Mr. Vinay Sharma to work toward ending child marriage. Dr. (Col.) Ravindra Nath Shukla delivered the vote of thanks, stressing that child marriage weakens the social fabric and leads to serious health and social issues. The program saw participation from faculty and students across Medicine, Pharmacy, and Nursing, including Dr. Pradeep Singh, Mr. Lalit Kumar Chauhan, and faculty members such as Ms. Akanksha Rathaur, Ms. Khushboo Singh, and Ms. Priya Mishra. The university’s leadership — Dr. Keshav Kumar Agarwal (Chancellor), Dr. Ashok Kumar Agarwal (Pro-Chancellor), and Dr. Kiran Agarwal (Vice-Chancellor) — praised the initiative, reaffirming their commitment to societal awareness and positive change through education.