- Bhuwan Ribhu calls for Madhya Pradesh to put children before faiths
Bhopal: Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children, urged the Madhya Pradesh government to prioritize children’s safety over religious personal laws. Speaking at a press conference, Ribhu emphasized that the state, with children comprising 40% of its population, has a unique opportunity to lead India in the fight against child marriage. He asserted that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) is a secular law designed to protect every child, regardless of their faith, and must be enforced without compromise.
= Proving that law protects every child
Ribhu’s call to action follows a series of High Court rulings where personal codes were allowed to override the PCMA. He argued that Madhya Pradesh must set an example by making this law universally binding and non-negotiable.
His organization, in collaboration with over 250 NGOs and law enforcement, has a proven track record. Between April 2023 and August 2025, they prevented over 36,000 child marriages and rescued nearly 5,000 trafficked children across 41 districts in Madhya Pradesh. This model of cooperation between civil society, police, and legal bodies has significantly strengthened the state’s child protection framework.
Ribhu, also the first Indian lawyer to receive the World Jurist Association’s “Medal of Honour,” stressed that the law must serve as a strong deterrent. He urged the state to show the same resolve in curbing child marriage as it did with its landmark decision to introduce the death penalty for the rape of girls.
