Pratigya hears that Chandra, a village mother, is planning to marry off her daughter Basanti. Pratigya grabs her bag and pays a visit to Chandra. What follows is a friendly but uncomfortable conversation about child marriage. Basanti is just 15 years old. The two women talk about the reasons why parents marry off their daughters at an early age, and about the dangers of child marriage. They also discuss why it is important for girls to continue their education.
Later on, Pratigya says that “Local families often believe that if they do not marry their daughters young, they could start a relationship with a boy, something which would bring dishonor to their family. I explained to Chandra that we, as parents, should consider a different approach. Mothers should advise their daughters as friends, not only as mothers, so that the children will listen to their parents from love and common sense, not out of fear of being beaten”.
Pratigya lives in Bhawrak, a small village in India’s most populated state, Uttar Pradesh. With a population of nearly 200 million, the state also has the highest children population in the country. About 154 families live in Bhawrak, and they all belong to a socially excluded and marginalized caste. Until recently, children here rarely went to school, and the were often involved in child labor.
In collaboration with Ikea Foundation, UNICEF is supporting the Government of Uttar Pradesh to establish Child Protection Committees across the state. Now, the Committee in Bhawrak provides a safe environment where people can discuss various topics without fear of being stigmatized. Since the establishment of the Committee, Pratigya and other women have become agents of change. They visit homes and raise awareness on child labor and child marriage. Their message is loud and clear: children should be in school. Led by the village chief, these committees include several village elders, leaders, and two minors.
At fifteen, Anita is one of these minors. “My parents used to say they were going to marry me off soon, but thanks to this Protection Committee, the village elders have convinced my parents not to do so”, says Anita. Committee members have pledged to support the movement against child marriage by publicly stating that they will not marry their own daughters before they reach legal age, and their public commitment has had a significant influence on the rest of the village people.
While Pratigya and Chandra are chatting, Chandra breaks down in tears. Pratigya says that she had her older daughters marry at an early age. One of them has been seriously ill from a complicated pregnancy. Doctors have told her that the girl's uterus is damaged, and have attributed it to her pregnancy at 16. Chandra decides not to marry off her younger daughter. “I've learned from my mistakes. I promised Basanti, my youngest daughter, that she will continue in school and will not get married until she’s 18.”
LET'S PROMOTE EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Source: UNICEF
