A New Year message from an organisation that works for women advocates equal opportunities for girls instead of pushing them to marriage.
While poverty is one reason often cited for early marriage, the head of the organisation said societal norms often consider a woman "settled" only when she is married.
"Let the New Year mark our progress towards equality in all spheres," said the message with an illustration posted on the social media page of the organisation, Swayam.
The illustration shows a teacher asking a schoolgirl why she is no longer attending school and she tells him that she will be married in a few days.
The teacher speaks to the guardian who cites poverty as a reason for getting the girl married.
The teacher tells him if she is educated she can stand by her family.
The guardian agrees and sends the girl back to school.
"Poverty is one of the reasons generally quoted by families to get their daughters married but even in not-so-poor or relatively affluent households a girl is considered settled only when she is married. Many women unfortunately are still treated as a commodity where her goal should be to get married. There has to be a change in that mindset and we start 2024 on a note of creating a gender-equal space for all," said Amrita Dasgupta, director, Swayam.
"We are advocating equality inside and outside the house, public spaces and institutions, in family structures and intimate partnership relationships. If there is equality, violence will automatically reduce," she said.
Swayam has been working to advance women's rights for the last 28 years.
Dasgupta said to counter child marriage a lot more sensitisation was required.
There are young girls on the threshold of adulthood who would marry because they believe it would give them a better life or their families would thrust it upon them because they think being in a relationship means it has to end in marriage.
"We need to sensitise the society about celebrating the girl child and empowering her to lead a violence-free independent life. We need to teach young boys about equality in relationships," said Dasgupta.
The illustration has been made by a young adult in a workshop against child marriage held in one of the communities where the organisation works.
"We have seen how the understanding and writings of our participants have evolved over the years," said a member of the organisation.
