Dr. Kriti Bharti has dedicated her life to helping girls escape one of India’s deeply rooted social problems: child marriage. As a rehabilitation psychologist and child rights activist, she has helped survivors challenge marriages arranged without their consent. Through legal intervention, counselling and community awareness, she has created opportunities for girls to reclaim their independence. Her work extends beyond courtrooms because she also supports survivors who want to continue their education and build careers. Today, her journey represents the power of determination, compassion and the belief that every girl deserves the freedom to choose her own future.
From Personal Struggles to a Purposeful Journey
Kriti Bharti journey towards social activism began with challenges that tested her determination from an early age. Born prematurely in Gujarat, she grew up in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, amid difficult family circumstances. According to India Today profile, she experienced suspected poisoning at the age of ten and faced serious health challenges during her childhood. Her education also suffered, and she left school in Class 4. However, she refused to let these experiences determine her future. At the age of 14, she returned to education and eventually completed her Class 10 examinations. She later pursued higher education and became a rehabilitation psychologist.
Interestingly, she considers completing Class 10 one of her most meaningful achievements, even after earning her doctorate. Her experiences helped shape her understanding of emotional recovery and the importance of support during difficult circumstances. Meanwhile, her professional research into child psychology introduced her to the struggles of girls trapped in forced marriages. Their stories gradually inspired her to use her knowledge and professional experience to protect vulnerable children. Rather than limiting herself to counselling, she began exploring ways to help survivors challenge the circumstances imposed on them.
How Kriti Bharti Changed the Fight Against Child Marriage
One of the most important turning points in her career came in 2012, when she helped secure a landmark child marriage annulment in Jodhpur, Rajasthan. The case involved Laxmi Sargara, who had been married when she was only one year old. As she grew older, she discovered that her family had arranged her marriage during infancy. When her in-laws expected her to join their household, she did not want to accept a relationship she had never chosen. However, challenging such an arrangement required courage, family support and legal assistance.
Kriti Bharti explored the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, to identify a possible legal solution. Through counselling and legal intervention, she helped Laxmi and the groom agree to annul the marriage. In April 2012, both parties signed affidavits declaring the marriage void. The achievement became a landmark in India’s fight against child marriage and demonstrated that survivors could challenge arrangements made during childhood. More importantly, it brought attention to a legal remedy that many families and survivors were previously unaware of. The case also encouraged other girls to seek assistance instead of accepting forced marriages as permanent obligations.
Turning Saarthi Trust into a Lifeline for Survivors
Following the landmark case, Bharti expanded her efforts through Saarthi Trust, a nonprofit organisation based in Rajasthan. As its founder and Managing Trustee, she focuses on preventing child marriages and helping survivors obtain legal relief. However, her approach goes beyond simply intervening when a wedding is planned. The organisation works with vulnerable girls and women through counselling, legal assistance, rehabilitation and awareness programmes. One of its initiatives is the Aapno Saathi helpline, which helps vulnerable individuals access support.
Through community outreach, Bharti also works to challenge social practices that encourage families to arrange marriages before children reach adulthood. Her efforts have not always received acceptance. In fact, she has faced strong opposition and death threats for intervening in cases involving traditional customs. ThePrint’s February 2026 investigation documented the resistance she encounters, including families hiding planned weddings and community pressure against those who oppose the practice. Nevertheless, she has continued helping families understand children’s rights and the consequences of early marriage. Her work demonstrates how local organisations can create meaningful change when legal knowledge meets consistent community engagement.
Beyond Annulment: Helping Girls Rebuild Their Futures
For Kriti Bharti, ending a child marriage is only the beginning of a survivor’s journey towards independence. Many girls who escape early marriages still face educational gaps, financial difficulties and pressure from their communities. Therefore, she believes rehabilitation must remain an essential part of every intervention. Through Saarthi Trust, survivors receive guidance and opportunities to return to education. Some girls who previously lost their childhood to marriage have started pursuing professional ambitions. The organisation also encourages survivors to become financially independent and make decisions about their own lives. Furthermore, Bharti emphasises that education should become a priority for every girl seeking a fresh start.
In March 2026, a case reported by The Indian Express illustrated this approach through Khushbu, whose marriage, arranged when she was 12, was annulled by a Jodhpur court. After the legal victory, she expressed her determination to resume her studies and become independent. Bharti explained that survivors should focus on education and empowerment rather than monetary payments. This philosophy reflects her belief that lasting freedom requires confidence, knowledge and the ability to support oneself. Her work also encourages survivors to become examples for other girls facing similar circumstances. Consequently, rehabilitation becomes more than assistance after a court victory; it becomes an opportunity to build an entirely different future.
The Wise Take
Dr. Kriti Bharti’s journey demonstrates how professional knowledge, courage and compassion can transform lives. Her efforts have helped make child marriage annulment a more visible legal option for survivors who want to challenge marriages arranged during childhood. By combining psychological support, legal intervention and rehabilitation, she has shown that freedom requires more than a court order. Girls also need education, confidence and opportunities to become independent.
Her work has continued to produce individual victories, with The Indian Express reporting in May 2026 that she had helped annul around 53 child marriages. Yet the larger challenge remains because preventing future marriages requires sustained efforts from families, communities and institutions. Ultimately, every child deserves the freedom to learn, grow and make important decisions about their own life. A girl’s future should never be decided before she has the opportunity to choose it herself.
Also read our other article on The Goa Teacher Who Builds Lessons for Children Other Schools Leave Out, and Just Won the National Teachers Award 2026
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