India, May 31 -- Last year on Akshaya Tritiya, something remarkable happened in Rajasthan. A day that had long been associated with a surge in child marriages passed without a single reported case in the state. That wasn't a coincidence. It was the result of strong judicial intervention, clear Government directives, and the grit of a network of NGOs that responded with urgency. The Rajasthan High Court, in response to a petition by the Just Rights for Children (JRC) network, ruled that village heads would be held accountable for any child marriage in their jurisdiction. The state administration acted swiftly, activating enforcement mechanisms at every level.
It was a moment that proved the power of coordinated action. That breakthrough was...