Awareness against child marriage increased in Bardiya

By Siraj Khan, Nepalgunj, Dec.13: "I was getting married on a whim at a very early age, however, some women and my friends stopped me from doing so. Earlier, I was enraged for not being able to get married to a boy that I liked, and kept a sour taste for those who stopped my child marriage. But now, I have come to realize that child marriage was illegal and I myself now suggest others avoid child marriage." This is a narrative of a 14-year-old Niru Chaudhary (name changed) from Gulariya Municipality-6, Bardiya. 

Kalpana BK (name changed) from Madhuban Municipality-2 has a similar story. She said, “I was getting married to a 21-year-old boy at the agreement of my family. The marriage arrangement was already finished. But the neighbourhood females put pressure on cancelling my marriage as I was underage for the marriage. My family had no intention of cancelling my marriage so the police had to intervene and my marriage was finally cancelled.” 

We can easily infer the status of child marriage in the village from the story of these two girls. However, activism and awareness imparted in different organizations, schools, and local levels have contributed to stopping child marriage by force which is a silver lining amidst the dark clouds. 

Chaudhary fell in love with a boy in her class and was planning to get married underage by eloping. However, child marriage was stopped with the intervention of villagers and schoolmates. Now, Chaudhary and her lover are studying in the same class but have postponed their marriage until their legal age. Likewise, BK was getting married off by her family marriage, but her marriage was stopped because of the efforts of females generating awareness against child marriage.

Bardiya is one of the districts which has a high rate of child marriage in the country. Because of this, awareness against child marriage has been generated with the coordination of governmental and non – governmental organizations in the district for the last two years. 

Prabej Ali Siddique, Chief Co-Ordinator of the Banke UNESCO Club said that awareness against child marriage has been incorporated in 40 secondary schools of the eight rural municipalities by forming a work plan. 

He said that many adolescents studying at secondary levels fall victim to child marriage, so we are incorporating awareness against child marriage from the school itself under extra curriculum at secondary school levels. 

Damodar Poudel, Principal of the Tribhuvan secondary school, Kakaura, said that the child protection acts as well as other strategies such as the signature campaign against child marriage, letter writing, speaking, easy competition, and other cultural programs on the topic are incorporated. 

“Plans formed in the schools will be thoroughly implemented and child-friendly schools will be started for reducing child marriage, " he said. Students and teachers said that this work plan will reduce child marriage to a larger extent. 

Sabitra Gautam, Deputy Mayor of the Bardiya Municipality said that even though child marriages in number have decreased in the district, but, are yet to be eradicated, therefore, imparting education and awareness should be stressed. 

She said that the municipality is joining hands with non – governmental agencies for generating awareness against child marriage and has been strongly implementing laws against child marriage.