New Telangana-Taruni Collaboration Focuses on Protecting Adolescent Girls

In a significant move to protect the rights and future of adolescent girls, the Telangana Women and Child Welfare Department has partnered with Taruni , a non-governmental organization with over two decades of experience in promoting girls’ empowerment , preventing child marriages and combating human trafficking.

The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on Monday, marking a renewed commitment to eliminating child marriages and minor pregnancies across the state through coordinated awareness, training and community outreach initiatives.

Speaking at the event, Women and Child Welfare Minister Seethakka described child marriage as a serious social challenge that extends far beyond individual families. She said the practice continues to disrupt the education of young girls, expose them to health risks and limit their opportunities for financial independence and personal growth.

The minister noted that the state government has been actively conducting awareness campaigns under the slogan “Balya Vivaham – Batuku Agam” (Child Marriage Stops Lives) to educate communities about the harmful consequences of early marriage. She emphasized that meaningful change can only be achieved through the collective efforts of government agencies, civil society organizations and local communities.

As part of the collaboration, specialized training programmes will be organized for Anganwadi workers, supervisors, Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs) and other frontline personnel. The training is expected to strengthen their ability to identify vulnerable cases, intervene effectively and support at-risk children and families.

The initiative will also focus on large-scale awareness programmes from the village level to the state level. Through these campaigns, adolescent girls will receive information about their legal rights, education, health, safety and personal development , enabling them to make informed decisions about their futures.

Mamatha Raghuveer , founder of Taruni , said the organization would provide technical expertise, training support and awareness-building assistance to complement the government’s efforts. She expressed confidence that the partnership would help create safer environments for girls and contribute to reducing the incidence of child marriage and teenage pregnancies in Telangana.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister Seethakka at the Secretariat. The event was attended by Women and Child Welfare Department Secretary Anita Ramachandran , Director Shruti Ojha , and Taruni founders Mamatha Raghuveer and Raghuveer , along with senior officials and representatives of the organization.

Officials believe the partnership will strengthen grassroots child-protection mechanisms and accelerate Telangana’s efforts to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to complete her education, pursue her aspirations and lead a life free from early marriage and its consequences.