The girl contacted a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working for the welfare of children and women. NGO members, along with Department of Women and Child Development officials, swooped on the girls house at Gautan Nagalavi in Mandihal Gram Panchayat, Dharwad taluk, and saved her from child marriage.
It is believed that the girls father received Rs 6,000 from a 38-year-old person of Nandghad in Alnavar taluk, to arrange the marriage. The girl had just completed seventh standard at the Government High Primary School at Mugad. The groom had allegedly promised the girls father more money after the marriage.
As soon as the girl learnt about the marriage, she opposed it and expressed her desire to continue studies. Even her mother and uncles supported her, but her father was adamant. The girl, who had heard about the NGO during an awareness programme in the school, showed the courage to contact them seeking help to save her.
Saved in nick of time
On Thursday, Dharwad-based Sadhana Human Rights Centre Founder Isabella Xavier, Child Development Project Officer (Dharwad Rural) D H Lalitha, a supervisor and an Anganawadi worker visited the girls house at Gautan Nagalavi.
They managed to convince her father to cancel her marriage fixed for June 4, and send her to the Balakiyara Balamandir at Ghantikeri in Hubli to continue her studies.
D H Lalitha recounted that when they visited Gautan Nagalavi, the villagers and family members asked them to save the girl. As a result, three purposes were served. The child was saved, her desire to continue studies will be fulfiled and awareness was created among other adolescent girls of the village, she added.
In the last two months, the department has managed to stop two child marriages in Itagatti and Benachi villages.
The girl will now continue her studies at Balakiyara Balamandir till she is 18.
Isabella Xavier said the awareness programmes about child marriage and childrens rights being organised in schools under the Sarva Shikshana Abhiyan helped this girl. Such a programme was held at the Mugad school also. When this girl came to know about her marriage, she sent her uncle to the school, obtained my phone number and contacted us, she said. Her marriage was being arranged through a mediator at Alnavar.
Xavier further added that the girls father, an alcoholic, beat up his family members for opposing the girls marriage. In view of this, she has been shifted to Balakiyara Balamandir.
When the girl was brought to the Balamandir on Thursday evening, the mehendi on her hands and legs were tell-tale signs of the marriage that she managed to rescue herself from.
The girl, who defeated the bid to ruin her life, was visibly happy about being able to continue her studies now.
DH News Service
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