Shamans, priests vow to stop child marriage in Tilagufa

By Our Correspondent,Kalikot, Mar. 26: Tilagufa Municipality, in Kalikot district, has coordinated with shamans and priests to generate awareness against child marriage in the municipality. Speaking at a programme organised by the municipality to initiate the campaign on Friday, shamans and priests assured to play their role in stopping child marriage.

"Priests and shamans are sought by people to decide on marriage date and conduct rituals. They now vow to not help families in any way if either of the expected couple is below 20 years, the legal age for marriage," said Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, deputy mayor of Tilagufa.

Shahi also informed that the "Sahayatra Campaign" of Karnali Integrated Rural Development and Research Centre (KIRDARC) and Save the Children have been helping the municipality by making people aware against child marriage and motivating children towards education and nutritious food consumption for the past seven years.

"We came in contact with shamans and priests during our time at the municipality. We were able to make them accept that child marriage was wrong," said Sarita Khatri, coordinator of Sahayatra Campaign.

The municipality also honoured 100 shamans during the programme for the step they were taking.

The shamans and priests assured the municipality that they will not take part in the marriage involving children in any way.