The Grameen Vikas Lok Sanstha has been active since 1984 in Latur, Osmanabad, and Parbhani districts of the Marathwada region in Maharashtra. In the past ten years this NGO has worked on various issues such as water, women's development, and child labor. The project, Prevention of Girl Child Marriages, addresses the vital issue prevalent in the local communities in the region. The NGO, during the course of its presence in the area for several years, has observed that majority of the girls drop out of the school before passing the 7th standard as they get married between the ages of 13 and 16. Early marriage results in lack of education, premature marital responsibility, health problems related to early motherhood, and marital discord.

The proposed project addresses the issue of girl child marriages through social, psychological and educational discourse and training. The project also offers pre and post-marital counseling. The project activities include: a baseline study; awareness programs on health, women.s rights, continuity of education, and advocacy. This three year project will cover 30 villages in the Ahmedpur area of Latur district. The estimated total cost of this three year project is $ 47,500.