State activist makes record by annulling 49 child marriages
Dr Kriti Bharti, the managing trustee of Saarthi Trust, a Rajasthan-based NGO dedicated to combating child marriages, has earned a place in the Asia Book of Records for her efforts in annulling the highest number of 49 child marriages in Asia
Furthermore, her campaign to nullify child marriages on the auspicious occasion of Akshay Tritya has also been acknowledged in the record book. Bharti, renowned as one of BBC’s 100 inspirational women and a top ten activist, successfully executed the annulment of the first child marriage in the country in Jodhpur in 2012.
Since then, she has consistently worked towards cancelling a record-breaking 49 child marriages in Asia through individual and institutional endeavours. Expressing her thoughts on the accomplishment, Bharti stated, “The process of annulling and preventing child marriages involves various challenges, especially when communities staunchly defend this deep-rooted practice. How
ever, we remain resolute in rectifying the societal mistakes of the past associated with child marriages.”
She further added, “We feel immensely honoured to have our efforts recognized by the Asia Book of Records, setting two records: ‘Maximum Child Marriage Annulments in Asia’ and ‘ Child Marriage Annulment on the occasion of Akshay Tritya,’ which is known for a higher incidence of child marriages.”
Bharti has already secured her place in nine records for her remarkable accomplishments. She holds the distinction of annulling the first child marriage in the country and setting a record for annulling the child marriages of two couples within a mere three-day period through the judicial process.